A SCINTILLATING, topsy-turvy rugby encounter between two tough-tackling sides ended in a balanced outcome.

Fordingbridge seconds drew 40-40 with lowly South Wilts to capture third place in Dorset and Wilts 3 South. The slanted pitch at Hudson’s Field didn’t burden fast-flowing rugby as it was non-stop throughout.

Playing up the slope and into the wind, Fordingbridge started in a confident manner, with Dean Lewis opening their account. This was quickly followed by Mark Hammond adding a try, which was converted by Lewis.

However, the tables turned and South Wilts ran in two tries, one they converted. Fordingbridge number eight Rob Hay stemmed the flow with a try again converted by Lewis, but South Wilts came back with 14 unanswered points. The first half finished with the score 19-26 to the hosts.

Fordingbridge stand-in skipper Jon Vass plunged over for a converted try immediately after the restart. Harry Hitchings followed this up with a converted try of his own to take Fordingbridge into a 33-26 lead, and at this point they were looking comfortable.

But South Wilts had other ideas and a converted try saw the scores level with around ten minutes to go. With the visiting pack dominant, a Tom Sheppard snipe from scrum half for a converted try saw them take a seven point lead.

Back came the home side and a barn storming run from their centre from inside his own half clocked up another seven points. He almost didn’t make it as debutant Steve Jones’ last-ditch tackle was not quite enough to catch the South Wilts man.