The Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew opened their 2017/18 season with a difficult away fixture to East Dorset
in Bournemouth, who were coming down from the league above and were sure to provide a stern
test. The Wheats travelled with a strong squad and hopes were high for the first match of the
season.
As expected East Dorset started the match strongly with the majority of possession and repeatedly
tested the Wheats defence, coming close on a few occasions. The Wheats managed to weather the
storm and with their first venture into the East Dorset half came away with a penalty scored by
James Repper. East Dorset replied almost immediately, crossing the Wheatsheaf line with a nicely
taken backline move bringing the scores to 5-3.
The Wheatsheaf then settled into the match and began playing some attacking rugby using a solid
platform provided by the hard work of the forwards. Ollie Kemp and Jack Williams combined
brilliantly to put pressure on East Dorset from a cross field kick and Jack Williams ran in under the
posts to score the Wheats first try, with James Repper adding the extras. Further pressure was
rewarded again when the quick thinking, evergreen Matt Hogarth took a tap penalty 20m out and
darted over in the corner. The conversation was narrowly missed and the Wheats went into the half
time break with a promising 5-15 lead.
After the break the Wheats looked to build on their strong finish to the first half with some early
pressure, but found themselves having to defend relentlessly as East Dorset came out strong,
looking to turn their possession into points. After a number of goal line clearances and sterling
defensive work from the Wheats forwards, the East Dorset pack rumbled over for not one but two
second half tries, regaining the lead at 19-15.
Heading into the last quarter of the match the Wheats managed to build a good platform again and
a clean break by Matt Hogarth put Jack Williams through for his second of the match, with JP
Townsend narrowly missing the conversion. Frustratingly for the Wheats, East Dorset hit straight
back with a converted try talking the scores to 26-20 with 5 minutes to go.
The remainder of the match saw the Wheatsheaf camped out in the East Dorset half and despite
continued pressure on their line they came up short and ran out of time. Overall it was an impressive
performance against some strong opposition and the Wheatsheaf have started the season on a
strong footing coming away with a losing bonus point and looking forward to their first home game
against Sherborne in a weeks time. Tom Durno won man of the match award for his tireless work at
blind side.

Matt Hogarth