It was a case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for Saxon Safety sponsored Andover, as they lost a game, they really ought to have won at the Goodship ground last weekend.
Having fought back superbly from a terrible start, Andover were leading with two minutes to go and looking good for a lifeline towards league survival, when a charged down kick allowed North Dorset to grab an unlikely last gasp victory.
Andover began nervously playing up the slope and conceded two early tries to the visitors who were quick out of the blocks.
After ten minutes however Andover finally got going and when Bryn Waite, Harvey Maloney and the excellent Mitch Needham combined to give Andover great field position, after a couple of phases, hooker Harry Dookerhan crashed over for a try, well converted by Matt Ryan.
Behind a scrum that was getting stronger as the game progressed and a lineout being dominated by man of the match Callum Hollinshead, Andover began to get more possession. Brilliant work from Dave Barber and skipper Alex Hibdige won a fine turnover and as Andover went through the phases North Dorset transgressed conceding both a yellow card and a penalty to the trusty boot of Ryan to draw Andover level.
As half time approached Andover looked strong with Harrison Pape countering well but just before the break a lapse in defence gave the visitors the lead back. Ryan McGealy broke superbly from a defensive scrum under pressure, but the ruck clear out came too late and from the resultant penalty North Dorset went over for another unconverted try.
After the break with slope in favour Andover dominated almost every facet of the game. Waite, Pape, Maloney and Needham were wreaking havoc on the counter, creating chances and field position, and eventually North Dorset broke.
A quick tap penalty from Ioan Gwynne Davies made great ground and when he was held Barber was on hand to fly over the defence to score a superb try well converted by Ryan to put Andover in the lead for the first time.
The visitors were stung and came back at Andover with a spell of pressure themselves.
A series of penalties left Andover on their own line, and despite repulsing several catch and drive attempts, in itself a huge improvement since these two sides last met, in the end gaps were found in the defence and North Dorset retook the lead.
Andover introduced the extra mobility of Stan Pearson and Roman Barton Knott, into the fray and both made an immediate impact.
Barton Knott in particular made several strong breaks and when he combined with Gwynne Davies and CJ Feirn to send Maloney over in the corner for a try superbly converted by Ryan from the touchline, Andover were again in front with minutes to go.
As Andover wound the clock down, with two minutes left, Barton Knott made another great break and Andover looked in complete control.
Sadly, it was not to be as a charged down kick bounced kindly for the visitors and they broke Andover hearts with another try.
Even then Andover still had a chance when a penalty was kicked deep, but unfortunately the normally reliable lineout malfunctioned and the grateful visitors kicked the ball out.
Afterwards director of rugby Andy Waite said ' We played well today for the most part and showed we can match teams at this level overall. It's just a shame we just creaked a little at the death when we needed to stay calm. Unfortunately, our league position now looks perilous to say the least, but we won't give up fighting whatever happens.'
