Dominant Dockers on Derby Day

East Dorset Dorset-Dockers- 40

Tries: Santa-Maria 4, Francis 8,46, Bowen 23, Mowlem 62, Stafford 71

Conversions: Moore 8, 23, Bowen 46, Ashton 63, 72

Bournemouth III- 5

Tries: Macgregor 50

East- Dorset Dockers beat local rivals Bournemouth in dominant fashion, with their physicality setting the tone for their performance, enabling them to play some wonderful attacking rugby in a bonus point win.

They set the standard, early on with big carries, and attacking the edges. After a few knock-ons and squandered chances, number eight Mario Santa-Maria powered over. Scoring his second try in as many Dockers appearances, after just four minutes.

The theme of strong carrying carried on as the home side adding their second minutes later as the backs capitalised on the quick ball they had been given as centre Luke Haine hit a line bursting through the defence before a one-handed offload to his centre partner Conor Francis who won the foot race to cross the try line.

New man Charlie Bowen scored his first try for the club on 23 minutes after straightening up the attacking and going through a hole inside the opposition half before rounding the full back to score under the sticks.

Bournemouth couldn’t handle the physicality coming from Dockers with huge carries particularly from the back row. Then in attack the visitors were getting nowhere and had to resort to a kicking game to pressure the hosts.

It might have worked had it not been for wingers Will Holland and Ollie Ashton who both made decisive defensive reads that saved their side.

Dockers were denied a fourth try on half time with their driving maul was held up over the line and went in 19-0 up at half time.

The second half started the same way with big physical carries from Chris Boertje and Conor Francis ensuring dockers kept on winning the gain line battle. They put together phase after phase stressing the Bournemouth defence, before co-captain Conor Francis went through a hole grabbing his second of the day and the decisive bonus point try.

Bournemouth then finally got some points of their own on the board, after their attacking kicking brought success winning a five-metre scrum. Following a series of pick and goes they managed to get over through prop Duncan Macgregor.

There was no hope of any comeback though as the home side started to run riot, with replacement scrum half Tom Barnes bringing fresh legs and a sniping threat around breakdown, and the front row decided they wanted to get in on the scoring action with Dec Francis setting up hooker Ollie Mowlem to score in the corner. Followed by an impressive touchline conversion from Ashton.

Dec nearly grabbed a try himself, less than ten minutes later as he broke off a maul but fell a metre short before fellow prop James Stafford bundled his way over the line for the final score of the game.

The game ended early due to an unfortunate Bournemouth head injury, but the result had never been in doubt as Dorset Dockers secured their third win of the season.

Man of the Match went to full back Charlie Bowen, as chosen by the opposition. With his try and a conversion as well as multiple line breaks, he was a threat all afternoon.

East Dorset Dockers Lineup:

Charlie Bowen, William Holland, Luke Haine, Conor Francis, Oliver Ashton, Luke Burrage, Connor Moore

Declan Francis, Oliver Mowlem, James Stafford, Tom Anson, Jack Stanley, Christopher Boertje, James Saund, Mario Santa-Maria

Replacements: Euan Markwick, Tyler White, Blake Yeomans, Jacob Sharples, Tom Barnes

Bournemouth III Lineup:

George Hampshaw, Jack Fuller, Louis Parker, Joshua Wickens, Jordan McAllister, James Lamon, George Feltham

Billy Edwards, Mark Brereton, Duncan Macgregor, Jordan Hazell, Alex Love, Oliver Mace, Alfie Macgregor, Alexander Caton-Bradley

Replacements: Mark Parry, Thomas Brown, Euan Tremlett