It felt like the start of a new season this Saturday when Atkins sponsored Tadley 1st XV made the very long trek down to Dorchester. Having not played a game since 12th December due to the wintery conditions it would be a real test to see how much training had taken place over the extended Christmas break. The previous encounter between the two sides had been very evenly matched....

Tadley started well and were able to pin Dorchester down in their own half for the first 10 minutes of the game exerting a dominance in the scum that enabled number 8 Darren Staley to pick up from the base and drive into the Dorchester midfield quick ball was generated and was spun wide that saw forwards and backs interlinking and Scrum Half Thomas Bailey putting full back Charlie Cox away to open the scoring. Chris Dennison adding the conversion and putting Tadley into an early lead.

Dorchester although rattled by the Tadley start responded and it wasn't long before as a result of some incisive running by their three quarters that they were on the Tadley line and despite some heroic tackling by the Tadley back three Dorchester scored in the corner.

The scores now at 7-5 in favour of Tadley the two sides exchanged blows for the remainder of the half and some interesting decisions around the scrum making it hard work for Taldey to press home their advantage. Chris Dennison adding a penalty taking the scores to 10 - 5.

Dorchester were able to cross the Tadley line one more time before half time through a well worked backs move and just got their noses in front for the half time whistle to take the score 12 -10.

Tadley started the second how they had the first and secured plenty of ball through the scrum and with Duncan Harris dominating the centre of the lineout.

The set piece provided the platform for the two further tries that Tadley scored firstly from scrum Alex Pike broke several tackles to put Jack Waterworth over under the posts. The second came from Duncan Harris in the middle of the lineout releasing Alex Godfrey, to Tom Bailey who showed great composure to put Chris Dennison over.

Dorchester replied each time Tadley pulled away and Tadley found themselves defending a 2 point lead into the dying minutes. Dorchester sent wave after wave of attack at what had been a resilient Tadley Defence but the pressure finally told and Dorchester breached the Tadley line taking the score to 27 - 22 in favour of the home side. With just too little time left Tadley were left feeling bitterly disappointed. However their performance was one that every member of the 17 man squad can be proud of and the positives and confidence that can be taken I'm sure will enable the team to put on a strong performance against Bradford on Avon this Saturday at Red Lane.

Team – Cox, Waterworth, Pike, Williams(Roose 50), Smith, Dennison, Bailey, Chris, Godfrey, Lowe, Harris, Murray©, Rosier, Grierson, Staley.