THE annual Gladiators’ tour this year saw the mixed squad of veterans, regular first-team players and tour specialists, head to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.
As on previous tours, expectation was high for a win as the squad had strength from first-team regulars in key positions.
Again as on previous tours, expectations were overcome by a determined home side, and a long journey to the ground.
As there are few clubs in Slovenia, it was mentioned that some players may well be in the national squad and it also became clear that the team’s coach, a feisty Kiwi, was determined to chalk up an international win.
The pitch was very moist in places having survived a number of days of torrential rainfall before the game, and there was talk of the game being cancelled due to safety issues, but the referee deemed it safe and so the game continued.
From the off, it was clear that the home side were not afraid to run the ball and had great pace out wide in the backs.
Dorchester’s only try was scored in the first half by first-team regular George Foot, who pounced on a loose ball and touched down.
Foot also got over the try line in the second half but couldn’t ground the ball despite the close attentions of his first-team colleagues Ryan Haskell and Jake Bosher.
Bosher had made his mark early in the game with some fine spurts of speed around the fringes of the opposition’s pack but failed to get on the scoresheet.
The opposition chose to have uncontested scrums in the first half claiming a lack of front row players, however, from the start of the second period, the scrums were contested and the second half ended all square.
Maybe it could have been a different story if the scrums had been contested from the off.
Dorchester’s man of the match in his long-awaited comeback game was Liam Kershaw, who covered three positions in the game and started in the front row alongside his father Ray, a stalwart of both club and tour games.
This was another successful tour, with new players enjoying the traditions of the Gladiators’ trips.
Keeping these going is an important factor for all in the party, and as younger players replace the veterans on tour the expectation builds for a victory next season.
