DORSET and Wilts got their County Championship Shield Pool Three campaign off to a dreadful start as they were thrashed by Hampshire 46-13 at Gosport and Fareham RFC.

From the outset the Twin Counties youngsters were very much on the back foot conceding 10 points in as many minutes through a penalty, try and conversion.

However, in the 16th minute a fine move incorporating both forwards and backs saw North Dorset centre Alan Geal touchdown in the corner to open the scoring for the visitors, who beat Hampshire 29-11 last season.

Ten minutes later and following a period of intense pressure on the home try-line a Hampshire back was caught offside and Royal Wootton Bassett's Dave Hogg stepped up to slot the resulting penalty and put Dorset and Wilts back into contention.

However, the hosts ended the first-half strongly adding a penalty to a converted try to make the score 20-8 at the break.

With a strong wind at their backs for the second half, the Dorset and Wilts travelling supporters were expecting better fortunes, but a lapse in the heart of the Twin Counties backs allowed the hosts to cross for a try directly from the restart.

Hampshire followed it up with another converted score in the 52nd minute and then in the 70th minute Hampshire touched down again to make it 39-8.

Down but far from out, the visitors rallied with Devizes' Lewis Pagett crossing the whitewash to score a well deserved try.

As Dorset and Wilts chased the game, they left space at the back for Hampshire to exploit and grab another converted score with the final play of the match.

The Twin Counties host Berkshire at Royal Wootton Bassett on May 14 where they need to win to stand a chance to keep their campaign alive.