DORSET & Wiltshire will play Essex in the Division Three final of the Bill Beaumont County Championship next weekend after a dramatic final Pool Two clash against Berkshire in Reading on Saturday.

Twin Counties fly-half Sam Baker crossed for a try in the 14th minute of added-on time of the 40-38 defeat to secure the bonus point the visitors required to top their pool ahead of Sussex and Saturday's hosts and reach their third County Championship final at Richmond RFC on Sunday (May 27).

Dorset & Wilts assistant coach Rich Elliott said: “The lads showed amazing character to come back and score three tries in injury time when all looked lost.

"We picked up a few injuries as the players put their bodies on the line so we must now look forwards to next weekend and hope the injuries are not too serious and hope we have a full squad of players to select the team from.''

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when North Dorset fly-half Baker booted a penalty but Berkshire soon took control, earning a penalty try from a ruck close to the line before scrum-half Miles Lloyd touched down for the second try, converted by centre Tom Humberston.

Five minutes later hooker Ben Henderson touched down and with Humberston landing the conversion Berkshire led 21-3 and it got worse for the Twin Counties as wing Josh Sunley latched on to a loose ball and outsprinted the cover to score a try in the corner.

Shortly before the interval Baker took a quick penalty and ran in to touch down before stroking over the conversion to throw his team a lifeline.

After the break the visitors began to win some ball and from a drive close to the line Royal Wootton Bassett hooker Phil Bardwell drove over, Baker landing the conversion to get them back in the game.

But all seemed lost as, with 65 minutes gone, Berkshire full-back Josh Bartlett touched down for a try then followed it up three minutes later with a second, both converted by Humberston and Jamar Richardson respectively to make the score 40-17 to the hosts.

Yet visiting skipper Bardwell led from the front and crashed over to score a try converted by Baker before, in the fifth-minute of added time, Bassett lock Dave Hogg burst clear to score and Baker converted.

With time nearly up Baker managed to break free and ground the ball between the posts to earn the losing bonus point before adding the conversion.