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purbeckgazette.co.uk Casey bags three tries in topsy-turvy away victory
By Ron Butler Dorchester 24 Swanage & Wareham 27
SWANAGE & Wareham made the short trip to Dorchester for what turned out to be an absorbing game, with the lead changing several times.
After five minutes, Swans were held up on the Dorchester line but from the goal-line drop-out Swans were awarded a penalty which centre Tom Munns put over to give them three points.
On 12 minutes, Dorchester had a move along their threequarters to score in the corner.
Swans continued to attack but on 20 minutes an interception by the home team’s centre saw him run 50 metres to score under the posts.
On 30 minutes, a penalty took Swans into the Dorchester 22, and from a maul the ball came back to the Swans’ skipper and the number 8 powered over the line. The conversion was missed.
With five minutes to go to the break, the ball was hacked towards the Dorchester 22 and winger Olly Dillon booted it further ahead and won the race to the line. Munns converted making the half-time score Dorchester 12 Swans 15.
A penalty to Dorchester took them into Swans’ 22 and from a scrum Dorchester’s fly-half punted the ball out to the wing where the winger caught the ball and scored in the corner.
Swans continued to press and won a penalty inside Dorchester’s five metres line. James Casey took a tap-and-go penalty to cross the try line.
With ten minutes to go, Swans were attacking close to the Dorchester 22 and once again an interception by Dorchester enabled the winger to run to the try line to score under the posts. The try was converted.
In the last five minutes Swans were all over the home side inside the 22 and from a pile up close to the line the ball came to James Casey, who worked his way over the line to complete his hat–trick of tries. Munns converted to make the score 24-27.
Dorchester had time to restart but less than a minute later the referee blew the final whistle.
RUGBY
Swans: R.Ferguson, O.Dillon, E. Demescio, T.Munns, S.Bowen, W. Slack, C.Tomes, S.Kitkat, C.Foskett, C.Peters, P., G.Climie, M.Peters, C. Moag, J.Casey, N.McMath, M. Seaton, M.Spencer. n Other result: Weymouth & Portland 64, Swanage & Wareham 2nd XV 0.
Royal Wootton Bassett 2nds 27 Swanage & Wareham 15
SWANS made the long trip to Wootton Bassett in the first game for five weeks due to the bad weather in December and the Christmas break.
Swans attacked in the first half but a penalty to RWB cleared their lines and from a line-out the ball was passed along the RWB three-quarters to a winger who scored in the corner. The try was converted.
Swans spent ten minutes with several phases on the RWB line, before Swans captain and number 8 James Casey powered his way over the line. The conversion was missed.
RWB had much more of the play for the next ten minutes with Swans giving away a series of penalties, one of which RWB converted.
From the re-start an RWB mistake enabled Swans to break clear with winger Harry Spyers kicking clear and his race to the line was successful.
But after 35 minutes RWB scored another try close to the posts which was converted, making the half-time scored RWB 17 Swans 10.
From the kick-off, Swans collected the ball, broke clear and the Swans centre passed the ball to Harry Spyers who went in and ran round to score close to the posts. The conversion was missed.
Both sets of three-quarters produced some fine play but the defences were on top. Close to the hour mark Swans tried to run from their line but an interception by an RWB centre close led to him crossing the line.
RWB dominated the scrums and put Swans under pressure and RWB scored a try through a winger in the corner, the final score of the game.
Swans: O Dillon, L Spyers, T Munns, E Dimescio, H Spyers, W Slack, C Tomes, S Kitkatt , C Foskett, N McMath, P Mercer, G Climie, M Seaton, C Moag, J Casey, S Waterman, S Bowen, R Ferguson. n Other result: Swans 2nd/3rd 22 Dorchester 2nd/3rd 31
