A 14 man Calne sent North Dorset home with their tails between their legs thanks to James Gladdings' own converted try 10 minutes in to the game. The jubilant Calne played the conditions better than their technically and physically superior opponents, who lacked Calne's tactical astuteness and sheer determination. Calne had a poor week with relegation looming thanks to a terrible performance against Supermarine and no midweek training thanks to the weather Calne took a very pessimistic out look into this week's game.

Captain Mike Charlwood's bold selection of the 18 stone Daron Thomas and the 16 stone Alan Wicks, both normally back rowers, as the 2nd row ensured that the already chunky front row was bulked to an impressive front five. This stroke of genius was inspired buy both the conditions and the corresponding fixture earlier in the season. The conditions dictated that the ball would not be moved far down the line which greatly reduced the need for the big hitters in the back row. And in the earlier fixture the Dorset pack battered Calne's light front five all over the park.

From the first of many scrums Charlwood's master stroke came into effect as the front five not only held their own but severely disrupted Dorset's ball. Veteran scrum half Mick McDaid harried his opposite number ensuring a bad day at the office for his young counter part.

With the winding ripping across the pitch in no ones real advantage, Calne's charging forwards and the boot of Gladding sustained a period of pressure on Dorset in their 22. In the uninspiring conditions handling errors were rife and Dorset's style of play was severely impeded. They found it difficult to pass the ball out of Graham Neale and Mike Robinson's fierce tackling, handing over a great deal of possession to the Calne pack. Dorset were further handicapped buy their over complicated line out and their intention to try elaborate back line moves. Meanwhile Calne's route one game started to pay off. 10 minutes into the game Dorset were pinned on their 5 meter line. Calne's attacking error gave Dorset the scrum which was obliterated by Matt Arnold, Jason Dolman and the fast improving Dave Holmes. Dorset's scrum half panicked under the pressure and fly hacked the ball out of the fast retreating scrum stright into Gladding's hands. Gladding had one man to beat for the soft landing on Calne hallowed turf for the score. Gladding, affectionaly renamed 'glendindadongding' after having his name incorrectly spelt in his first press headline, stepped up to take the conversion and sent the ball sailing through the posts.

Dorset came back at Calne in a very fierce fashion, they upped the intensity at the ruck, maul and tackle area. Their increasing frustration split over 20 minutes into the game when a ruckus started with McMaid as their target, unfortunately for Mick his retaliation was not too discrete and he was sent from the pitch for a nice warm shower just as another down pour started and the chilling wind came into full effect.

Now down to 14 men and facing a Dorset team clearly not wanting to be embarrassed buy their Wiltshire based opponents, Calne faced a full 60 minutes of bone rattling rugby. Charlwood and Vice captain, Alan Wicks, chose not to sacrifice a flanker but made the bold move of playing with out an open side winger. Another fantastic decision based on the now deteriorating conditions.

Dorset tried their best to exert some control on the game but were shut down at every opportunity by Calne's mobile back row. Fijian, and Army 7's expert, Spud with the aid of the returning Max Whiston and the young Mike Robinson clattered any Dorset attempt of an attack forcing may handling errors or rushed kicking options.

Half time was called and stirring words from Charlwood and Neil Young buoyed the cold, wet, tried and hurting team and inspired them to their best performance of the season. The second half started much the same as the first as Calne applied the early pressure, as the weather eased the cold backs started to put their mark on the game. Thomas nearly increased the score line with a steal from a Dorset line out, 10 meters inside their half, his thunderous run sent two defenders into the mud and a deft little chip was bravely collect by the Dorset full back, who could see Thomas baring down on him at full speed.

With the realisation, and probably their earlier expectation, Dorset remembered that a win in this game would take them 2nd from top and an within sniffing distance of Sherboune. They came at Calne and hard. Calne had to concede territory in the last 10 minutes due to the Dorset pack's battering of their now tiring Wiltsire counter parts. Dorset earned a scrum 5 meters from Calne's try line, the initial attempt was bundled into touch. Five more scrums followed in a period of pressure that Calne had not had to endure since their days in the southern counties. Calne held firm throughout. Thanks to the determination of the pack and some fearless tackling.

The last 5 minutes saw a change of tactics form Dorset and they threw caution to the wind and attacked through their backs in the now settling conditions and tried to exploit their one man advantage. Calne's cold backs could have justifiably, due to the condition and lack of ball, miss timed a tackle or missed one all together and let their counter parts through. Dorset's first attack was down the blind side at the slight Mike Burden. Bundi, not renown for his tackling ability, gritted his teath bundled a much larger man into touch. Undeterred Dorset tried the open side where Alan Henley was covering a two man overlap. Dorset's big full back came steaming into the line and hit Henley with a thunderous hand off. The law's of physics dictated that Henley should have been sent reeling. He hung on but took another bludgeoning shot to the mouth. Enough was enough for Al and he pummelled his man in to the ground before the pass to the two man overlap could be made.

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