POOLE 10

BRIDPORT 27

BRIDPORT moved to the top of Wadworth 6X Dorset & Wilts Two South with a hard fought and controlled performance against a physical Poole side resulting in a 27-10 bonus point win.

Despite heavy morning rain, the pitch was playing well and from the kick-off the Blues started in lively fashion running the ball back at their opponents but a line-out penalty was taken quickly by Poole catching the defence unawares for an unconverted try.

Bridport responded immediately when, after a Poole scrum, James Tuck intercepted and ran in unopposed with Mitch Waters converting for 7-5.

After this flurry of scores, the rest of the half ebbed and flowed with both sides threatening their opponents’ lines but with the defences remaining strong no real clear cut chances were created.

The second half started with Bridport not kicking 10 metres, but a superb scrum led to a strike against the head which Waters drove into the 22, offloading to Tuck to finish with a powerful run into the corner for an unconverted try.

Bridport again drove into the Poole 22 from the kick-off with Harry Richardson offloading to Dan Butler who made the break but the ball was knocked on. Poole made good ground from the scrum but were forced into touch on the 22.

The Blues gained a penalty allowing Waters to clear.

The lineout was turned over but after a good Waters break another knock-on allowed Poole to clear. Bridport came again and this time forced a penalty in the Poole 22 which Waters converted. From the kick-off Will Murley drove strongly and after being turned over Poole had a player yellow carded.

From the resulting scrum a superb pick-up and run from the back of a retreating scrum from Jude Appleton-Scott allowed him to draw the Poole blindside defence and offload to Dave Cutting who dived hard into the corner for the third unconverted try.

From the kick-off the Blues, with an overlap, tried to run out of defence instead of opting for a clearing kick and knocked on. From the resulting scrum Poole gained a penalty which was quickly taken to score an unconverted try.

Bridport showed their composure which was evident throughout the whole match by forcing a line-out turnover in the Poole 22 and the ball was moved quickly from Cutting to Waters who fed Oscar Tomkins to run in through the defence for a converted try.

The Blues closed the game down with some sensible play in defence and a kick and chase from Ellis Blackburn into the Poole 22 resulted in a penalty which Waters just drifted wide.

Bridport host Oakmeadians in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday.

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