DORSET & Wilts were beaten 29-20 by Cheshire despite a brave display in the final of the Under-20 County Championship at Moseley RFC.

The Twin Counties made the worst possible start when they conceded a try moments after kick-off.

An attempted clearance kick was charged down and Cheshire fly-half Josh Morris reacted quickest, pouncing on the loose ball and touching down before adding the conversion.

Morris added a penalty before Dorset & Wilts got on the scoreboard courtesy of a couple of penalties from the boot of centre Rhodri Hopkins.

Back came Cheshire with their second try, Morris again adding the extras, before their opponents crossed the whitewash three minutes before the break.

Scrum-half Ciaran Johnston broke clear and weaved his way past floundering defenders to touch down, Hopkins's conversion reducing to 17-13 the deficit.

Dorset & Wilts hit trouble early in the second period when replacement Sam Vivian was sin-binned after he was judged to have deliberately killed the ball at a ruck.

Cheshire then earned a penalty try which Morris converted and a fourth try soon after extended to 16 points the advantage.

With 17 minutes left, Johnston outsprinted covering defenders to bag his second try. But after Hopkins slotted the conversion, Dorset & Wilts could not fight back further.

Meanwhile, the Dorset & Wilts senior side endured a tough start to their County Championship campaign, losing 28-10 to Sussex at Crawley RFC.

The visitors' only try was scored by Oliver Wilson, Sam Baker adding the conversion alongside a penalty.