Sun 22 Mar 2026, 12:30
Bridport RFC Under 14s 12-24 Marlborough Rugby Under 14s
22 March 2026, at Sherborne RFC, for the Dorset & Wiltshire RFU Under 14s Plate Final
Tries: A. Celliers (2), H Graham, A. Powell
Conversions: L. Elliott (2)
On a hot and sunny spring day in Sherborne, the Marlborough Rugby Under 14s (the self-styled 'Stags') come away with a win and the silverware in the Dorset & Wiltshire Plate final!
The boys took an early start with Arthur scoring in the corner off a planned line out move in the Bridport 22. A second score followed 10 minutes later where a pin point kick through by Alex B at fly half led to Harry G touching down in the corner. Bridport coaches commented that it was a great bit of skill.
The boys kept Bridport out of our 22 for the half with some ferocious defence and counter rucking, even when playing for large periods without the ball. When we did have the ball we were often our own worse enemy with knock on's and forward passes when trying to force the play.
The first half ended 10-0
The second half started where the first ended with good play being undone by handling errors however when the team strung together some passages of play they moved from halfway up to the try line with straight hard running and good support at the breakdown and quick ball. All the pressure told and Arthur at No. 8 scored his second after this passage of play near the posts with Laurence converting.
We then scored immediately from the kick off, Harry R smartly caught kick off, committed his man and put Alex P away into space where he finished beneath the posts after starting deep in his own half for a great individual try. Laurence converted this as well. At 24-0 in the heat and with 10 minutes left the boys started to wilt a bit and tackles that were being made earlier started to slip off.
To their credit Bridport kept playing scoring a couple of tries at the death but the boys had done the hard work and take the trophy back to Wiltshire!
The pack were superb and were bossing the scrum all game and a couple of mauls made large gains in territory. No man of the match today - everyone gets the honour.
As a coaching group we are extremely proud of the team who were there on the day and grateful for the wider squad for everything they have added and given in previous games and at training.
Big thanks to the parents for running the team around Dorset and Wiltshire for the tournament, we've played the whole tournament away from home!
