WIMBORNE team manager Dan Draper insisted the camp had been in upbeat mood despite the 43-20 defeat to Marlborough at Leigh Park.

The Minstermen were overpowered by their Wiltshire opponents in Southern Counties South and narrowly fell short of a try-scoring bonus point.

Ed Carter, Jordan Brown and Jim Brokenshire all crossed the whitewash for Wimborne while Tom Chaffey added five points with the boot.

Reflecting on his team's fourth straight loss, Draper said: "It was a tough game and we faced a much-changed Marlborough side from our previous meeting.

"The guys stuck to the task and competed in all areas to try and gain a four-try bonus point. The mood afterwards was buoyant knowing we had in large parts played some good rugby.

"We look forward to our next fixture at Midsomer Norton and we will try to get back to winning ways."

Elsewhere in the division, Dorset Dockers were also on the end of a defeat as they succumbed 31-14 to Wimborne's next opponents.

The home side took an 11-0 lead into the break thanks to a try and two penalties, with another two unconverted tries after the break making it 21-0.

Dockers fought back and Jamie Coyne-Stacey's fine line of running earned a visitors a converted try, while Daniel Mallard finished off a well-executed backs move from a scrum, which was also converted by Tommy Keir.

A key moment arrived when Ed Johnson was held up just before the try line and Midsomer made their opponents pay, two unconverted tries giving the hosts a comfortable win.

Ellingham & Ringwood boosted their Hampshire One survival hopes with a 12-10 victory over Chineham.

The visitors dominated the opening quarter but the Es hit back and following a period of pressure, scrum-half Dave Jones fed centre Callum Butler for the game's first try.

Some 10 minutes later, Es skipper Garrett Avis crossed the whitewash and full-back Josh Butcher kicked the tricky conversion to extend to 12-0 the lead.

Chineham replied with a try in the corner and that was how it stayed until 10 minutes from the end, when another unconverted try set up a nerve-jangling finale.

Es breathed a sigh of relief when a penalty in the dying moments was missed, the wayward attempt preserving the hosts' lead.

In Dorset & Wilts One South, East Dorset defeated North Dorset II 30-23, while Oakmeadians sunk Salisbury 29-12 and Lytchett Minster lost 52-5 at Blandford.

Poole overcame North Dorset III 30-20 in Dorset & Wilts Two South while New Milton & District lost 18-17 at home to Old Mid-Whitgiftian in London Three South West.

Meanwhile, Ellingham are due to hold their annual festival of touch rugby and real ale at the Raymond Brown Memorial Ground on Good Friday.

Some 24 teams from across the south are due to compete and admission is free (10.30am).

A wide variety of real ales and ciders will be on offer at the Ringwood Brewery-sponsored event, as well as a Pimm's tent.