Southampton v East Dorset

Both East Dorset and Southampton lined up with very different sides from those who faced each other last season. East Dorset have lost a number of players and are consequently going through a rebuilding period, while Southampton unveiled some of their new signings.

The game started well for Southampton, with Tony Cador opening the scoring after Ward put him into space on the blind side. He used his strength well and forced his way over the line under pressure from a number of defenders.

Saints made some good opportunities but couldn't always get the ball out wide when they had numbers waiting. However Dan Keepax added to the scoreline when he crashed over to the right of the posts. Ryan Keary converted both tries, to give Saints a 14-0 lead.

The Southampton pack looked dominant in the first quarter, driving back a Dorset scrum and turning the ball over with a huge shove. The lineouts also looked solid, with Egg's pinpoint throwing picking out the jumpers to feed Kevin Cant at scrum half.

Ryan Keary was unlucky not to score himself, when Mark Waterer collected a chip and put Keary through. But a desperate defensive effort saw him bundled into touch as he touched the ball down. A video ref might have give it, but unfortunately he couldn't be found and the try was disallowed.

The second quarter saw Dorset shut out Southampton, but they never really threatened the Saints line themselves, leaving the score 14-0 at half time.

In the third quarter Southampton extended their lead with a further three tries. The first came as the pack drove the ball to within yards of the Dorset line. As it looked like the maul would be stopped, Ryan Pickering and Bean rolled the ball left and around the defense, for Pickering to claim the touchdown.

The intensity of the game lifted with 25 minutes remaining, when Kevin Cant was sinbinned after a bout of handbags. Dorset tried to take advantage of the extra man and stepped up the pressure in the scrum, knocking the Saints pack backwards for the first time in the game. But some resolute defending saw each attack snuffed out as Saints proudly defended the zero scoreline. Dorset did cross the Saints line, but Dave Ward got himself under the ball for a 5 yard scrum.

Julian Robins added to the score when Keary's penalty failed to find touch. Mark Waterer and Julian Robins chased down the gathering defender, stole the ball and put Robins in for the try. Mark Waterer added one himself, when he wriggled and twisted his way through the defence to score under the posts.

Saints returned to full strength in the final quarter and naughty boy Cant was soon on the scoresheet himself. Tony Cador broke from a scrum, drew his man before finding Kev in space to his right.

The final try of the day came after the ball was moved from wide on the Saints left by some neat hands amongst the forwards. The ball then went out to the backs and Ward offloaded to Robins who scored in the right hand corner.

All in all, an excellent performance from an unfamiliar looking Southampton side. The forwards put in an awesome display to cause Dorset all sorts of problems at the scrum, whilst the backs made good use of the ball and finished well. Ryan Keary put in an outstanding display with the boot, scoring five out of seven conversions from some difficult angles.

Rob Greenaway put in a typical hardworking display and stole a number of Dorset balls. Dan Keepax made some good breaks and supported well, while Tony Cador showed great strength and made good ground under pressure.

Next week sees the start of the league season, with the 1s away to Eastleigh and the 2s at home to Petersfield.