BRIDPORT 29 WIMBORNE SECONDS 52

THREE converted tries in the first 17 minutes set Dorset & Wilts One South title challengers Wimborne Seconds on the way to a high-scoring win at the Brewery Ground.

Oz Sullivan led the Blues out as captain for the day, but the home crowd was stunned into silence as the visitors romped into a 17-0 lead.

Facing an almost insurmountable task, Bridport regrouped and a flurry of short passes saw James Tuck register his first try for the club. Rory Greening converted.

The Blues went down to 14 men when one of their centres was sin-binned for a barge, while soon after, the game had to be moved to the second XV pitch following a nasty ankle injury.

That didn’t stop Wimborne asserting pressure on the hosts and the bonus-point try came when their fly-half crossed under the posts.

The extras were added to make it 28-7.

Greening kicked a penalty to leave the Blues 28-10 down at the break.

Despite a muddled start to the second half, Bridport enjoyed the advantage of the slope and Jason Blackmore was able to break through to score.

Wimborne quickly responded with a lovely try in the left-hand corner, which came from a huge looped pass from their skilled stand-off.

A flat patch in the game saw some shabby line-outs, some infuriating knock-ons and an over-used whistle.

The Bridport scrum began to gel, but a communication breakdown between two Bridport backs gave an easy interception to a Wimborne speedster. The conversion made it 40-17.

This unintended gift stung the Blues into action in the final quarter and there was more snap to their play.

Tom Wilkins crashed through several defenders for the hosts’ third try, however, Bridport’s hard forward graft was let down by another two interception tries.

Wimborne lost a man to a yellow card at 47-24 ahead and, in the time he was off the field, Will Everitt released Wilkins and he beat his marker to score again and help secure a four-try bonus point for the Blues.

However, Wimborne had the last word with an immaculate try from their sublime left- winger, who ghosted and jinked his way past several defenders on the way to the try line.

Despite the defeat, Bridport have now moved up to eighth in the table and are hoping for a mid-table finish with three home fixtures to come.

They host Swanage & Ware-ham Seconds this Saturday in a match preceded by the annual vice-president’s lunch.

There is no league fixture for Bridport Seconds in Dorset & Wilts Four.