Adtkins sponsored 1st XV welcomed North Dorset RFC to Red Lane. Tadley fielding a different looking side from last week seeing Colin Summers and Stuart Campbell return to the front five and a hamstring injury to Ed Smith saw Gareth Cripps return to the wing.

North Dorset have come out convincingly on top in the last three times the teams have met Tadley would have to firing on all cylinders to get results encounter.

Tadley were able to convert some early pressure into points through the boot of Chris Dennison taking an early 3-0 lead.

North Dorset set out in familiar efficient fashion and following some sloppy defending across the Tadley line the visitors winger went in the right hand corner. Tadley rallied behind the post and clearly settled any nerves that they might have had from this set back thanks to some calming words from acting skipper Darren Staley as they came out looking like a different side.

The Tadley pack benefited from the increase in the average age this week and exerted real pressure through the scrum and at the break down that afforded them good phases of possession and territory. This culminated in a break by Gordon Grierson who passed to prop Chris Clifford who with slight of hand that a centre would have been proud of to put Gareth Cripps over in the corner.

Following the restart the home team again retained possession and pressurising through the dominance of the pack allowing skipper Darren Staley crashed over the line following a five metre scrum.

Chris Dennison’s accuracy is now relied upon and converted both tries taking the half time score to 17 – 5. Dennison now has scored over 150 points in league matches this season with a success rate that would rival any other kicker in any league.

Tadley were under no illusions that this game was far from won when a sloppy start to the half saw a loose kick regathered and countered for a score. North Dorset certainly have the pedigree to come back and with the crowd getting nervous Tadley raised their game. The Tadley pack should take a large degree of the credit as they continued to dominate at set piece, Gordon Grierson performing admirably at the front of the lineout.

The next Tadley score came from a sterling individual effort from centre Alex Pike who’s dummy fooled the full back and allowed him to cross the line under the posts.

North Dorset replied very shortly showing that they were not beaten yet following a period of poor discipline. To bring it back to 27-20.

Chris Clifford sealed the Tadley victory with a crash over try making the final score 34 – 20.

Tadley were delighted with the result and the performance that entertained the crowd for the full 80 minutes.

Man of the Match Campbell for his outstanding work rate and physicality.