CALNE progressed to the semi-finals of the Dorset & Wilts Plate with a 30-19 victory at Puddletown on Saturday.

Arriving only shortly before kick-off, a rusty visiting side paid the price when Puddletown took advantage to open the scoring in the first few minutes.

Calne started to warm up and it wasn’t long before they were back on terms as Rhys Taylor danced his way around tackles to score under the posts.

Taylor converted and the game turned into a see-saw battle, with both sides playing some good rugby.

Calne’s pack had a slight advantage in the scrums and prop Pete Brownlie and hooker Dave Evans carried well and looked to spoil at the breakdown.

Full-back Mark Webber had to be on form to repel some promising Puddletown attacks and, as the game entered the last six minutes, Calne had a single-point advantage at 20-19.

A break from Adam Young and pass to Taylor enabled the fly-half to touch down in the corner for his third try and winger Jamie Palmer rounded it off with another score.

Captain Tom Morten said: “A year ago, we would have lost this sort of game but we have a great togetherness at the club and we would not be denied.’’ Calne face another long trip to play Poole in their semi-final clash on October 15.