RUGBY

Dorset and Wilts Academy 35, Buckinghamshire 10

THE Combined Counties youngsters proved too strong for a spirited Bucks side who, although full of running, were outclassed.

The Dorset and Wilts forwards bagged the lion's share of the tries, with Chippenham flanker James Igo first to touch down, followed by Old Richians number eight Calum Morrison, Exeter University hooker Andy Champ and Newbury prop Kevin Gough.

Blandford Royal Signals Regiment left wing John Howes and Newbury centre Patrick Benson added a try each for the Twin Counties. Chippenham's Dave Wells landed a conversion and penalty to complete the scoring.

Team manager John Rowland said: "The England selector Phil Lane was at the game and told me that he was very impressed with the display from the Dorset and Wilts team, who played entertaining rugby in difficult conditions. A number of the squad will be invited to join the South West of England trials coming up later in the season."

The team to play Berkshire at Maidenhead next week will be strengthened by the return of centre Victor Frampton, formerly of Weymouth who now plays for Bath's under 21 side.

Corsham 15, Swindon College

Old Boys 22

CORSHAM suffered another Southern Counties South defeat as the Swindon College continued their much improved league form with a comfortable victory.

Although the scoreline suggests a close game, the Old Boys were always in charge.

College kicked off and spent the first 20 minutes camped in the Corsham half.

If a few passes had gone to hand College would have taken an early lead. But from one of the dropped passes the Corsham winger picked up and went in to score, totally against the run of play.

College hit back immediately when second row Ben Green drove the ball on. Good ruck ball was quickly moved wide and full back Tony Flower was on hand to make the overlap and score in the corner.

The Corsham pack were guilty of killing the ball and Sean Millwaters kicked the resulting penalty to put College ahead.

Combative flanker John Godsell linked with number eight Tony Brant and drove the ball on. It was fed to prop Jools Gidzinski who was stopped just short of the line. From the scrum College executed one of their set back row moves and winger Dave Brock went in to score. Millwaters converted from the touch-line.

The second half started much the same as the first with College dominating up front.

College forwards drove the ball down the centre of the pitch. From the maul Millwaters chipped the ball over and fly-half Mark Williams raced through to reach the ball first and score. Millwaters converted.

With 10 minutes to go College were guilty of relaxing and Corsham took advantage of this by running in two unconverted tries.

Cooper-Avon Tyres 10,

Westbury 7 (after extra time)

COOPER-AVON Tyres are through to the final of the Dorset and Wilts Plate after this close victory over neighbours Westbury.

They will meet Calne or North Dorset in the final.

The home side forwards, with a much improved performance from the game earlier this season when they were well beaten, laid the foundations for this tense local derby win. Westbury opened the scoring in the first half when fly half Rich Coleman scored a fine individual try, Bobby Dunn converting to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Cooper Avon responded by pressurising the Westbury line and were rewarded with a penalty try when a deliberate knock on prevented a certain try scoring opportunity. Paul Simmons converted to leave the half-time score tied at 7-7.

With both teams defending excellently there were no further scores in the second half. The game went into extra-time and with Westbury missing the influential Rich Coleman, taken to hospital with a serious ankle injury, the Melksham side took control.

Following concerted pressure skipper Rich Woolford was successful with his third attempted drop goal. Despite several anxious moments in the second period of added time Cooper Avon held on to secure their place in the final.

The match also counted as a Dorset and Wilts League Division One match, with the sides taking a point each from the normal time score of 7-7.

Westbury 2nds 8,

Cooper Avon Tyres 2nds 16

THE visitors recorded their eighth consecutive victory, centre Pete Groves scoring their only try.

Full back Stuart Moore added the conversion and kicked three penalties to complete the scoring.

The 3rd XV travelled to Avonvale and were beaten by 46-10, Steve Harris scoring two tries.

Marlborough 5,

Bradford on Avon 12

THIS was not a day for running rugby. The Marlborough Downs were windy and wet and the ball resembled the proverbial bar of soap.

There were, therefore, numerous handling errors and turn-overs.

Bradford had slightly the better of it for the first half hour, but it remained scoreless until Peter Rouse made a break upfield and a clever kick by prop Simon Legge into the corner was chased down by full back Mark Roberts. From the resulting line-out Tim Hardy scored a sniping scrum half's try.

The 5-0 half-time lead was soon added to as Bradford made a dominant start to the half. A Marlborough line-out near the halfway line was stolen by Chris Powell and a practised move worked perfectly when a switch-pass by fly-half John Cotton allowed centre Andrew Maskrey to slice through the defence to score a converted try under the posts.

Bradford lost concentration and the ball as refereeing decisions started to rack up against them. Marlborough exerted pressure and were unlucky not to score when the ball was knocked on over the try-line.

Shortly after they did score when an attempted break-out by Bradford left their defence very stretched, which was easily exploited to bring the end of scoring at 5-12.