This friendly was organised to make best use of a free weekend with no league games. Following the postponement of last week’s match due to a frozen pitch, Ivel were in need of game time as they had not played for three weeks.

This was an opportunity to try players in different positions (some intentionally, some not). It also allowed Ivel to try some new players to the first team, including some former players that have just returned from active service in Afghanistan. The match became a trials game for both sides and the play certainly showed it.

Dorchester managed to take control early with Ivel making handling errors and giving penalties away.  This was, by no means, a high scoring game but it was also never going to be boring. Especially with the supporters trying to keep motivated in the wind and rain.

Ivel suffered an early blow when prop Martin Cole was forced to leave with an injury. A makeshift front row proved ineffective so the services of Ivel Chairman Harold Williams were called upon. Harold came on and the scrum stabilised, showing the experience of his 59 ¾ years to the youngsters around him.

Ivel managed to come back with two tries, scored by Ed Mason and DJ Armitstead, both unfortunately unconverted.  In fact up until the last few minutes Ivel were actually leading but then errors crept in. Tackles were missed, lineouts lost and gaps left. Dorchester profited and scored the winning points.

This was useful from Ivel’s point of view in that they managed to see how players adapted to conditions (both in the weather and playing positions). It also showed that three weeks without a game meant six weeks of ring rustiness coming through.

Ivel need to get their heads working together and find the winning mentality that they had against Oldfield Old Boys before Christmas. They know they can do it and against Minety on 24thJanuary they need to do it. They travel to Wiltshire in the knowledge that the home game against Minety was Ivel’s first league win of the season. Points are more important than ever now, both in the league table and on the pitch.