DORSET’S under-16 girls beat Gloucestershire and Somerset to achieve a historic second place in the South West Inter-County competition at Millfield.

They began with a thrilling 4-1 win over Gloucestershire, who had defeated them by a margin of more than 20 goals last year.

This was followed by a 12-2 victory over Somerset. Devon proved a step too far, however, and Dorset went down 6-1 to collect a set of silver medals.

Dorset team: Kathy Rogers, Georgina Crossley, Megan Fletcher, Beth Kinsley, Chloe Roxburgh (Christchurch), Heather Baker (Seagulls), Emily Jack, Megan Brown (Bland-ford), Sarah Ewels, Jamie-Lee White (Bournemouth), Clare Scarborough, Zoe Robertson, Holly Anderson (Bridport).

• In the first South West men’s inter-club championships since 1994, debutants Bournemouth SC and Bridport both finish fourth and last in their preliminary groups, Bournemouth losing 7-1 to Newquay and 5-3 to Cheltenham despite holding a 3-1 lead with three minutes to go. Eventual winners were Exeter City.