TWO late penalties from Royal Wootton Bassett's Dave Hogg sealed Dorset & Wilts' second victory in the RFU County Championship Shield at Trowbridge RFC on Saturday.

Neither side mastered the blustery conditions, with a strong breeze blowing diagonally down the park, but Dorset & Wilts latched kept their guests penned back inside their own half in the final minutes with accurate line kicking, winning the that skipper Hogg duly converted.

The hosts kicked off playing into the breeze and were in front inside two minutes through a Hogg penalty.

Eight minutes later, Essex centre Fabio Olunfowora levelled the scores with a kick of his own.

On the quarter, Salisbury centre Tom Scott burst clear in centre field then weaved his way past three Essex defenders to go over for a try, Hogg landing the extras.

Visiting flanker Lewis Gilbert crossed for a try in the 27th minute followed on the stroke of half time by teammate Tom Simpson also with a try - and with Olunfowora’s conversion Essex led 15-10 at the break.

Kicking off the second half with the wind at their backs Dorset & Wilts were soon on the attack, and when an Essex forward strayed offside, skipper Hogg stroked over the resulting penalty to narrow the margin.

In the 54th minute replacement centre Harry Salisbury broke clear, sprinting 50 meters before an Essex defender managed to collar him but he left enough in his tank to power over and touch down for a try.

Hogg’s conversion strayed wide but the Twin Counties were in front by three points.

As time ebbed away, a mistake in the Dorset & Wilts midfield allowed Tom McCaffery in to grab a try and put the visitors in front  20-18.

But in the 79th and 81st minutes came Hogg’s two late penalties to snatch victory for the Twin Counties.

Dorset & Wilts host Hampshire at Swanage and Wareham’s Bestwall Park in their final pool game next Saturday.