WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 71 BRIDPORT 15

A LACK of front-row specialists meant Bridport had to concede this Dorset & Wilts Two South fixture, but the game still went ahead as a friendly after the hosts gave the visitors a helping hand.

Weymouth & Portland picked up five points for the walkover, however, the Blues were not docked any as they did turn up for the encounter at Monmouth Avenue.

In the end, it proved to be a very one-sided game that the home side won comfortably, with their try count running into double figures.

Joel Wilson, Joe Gibson and Ryan Lewendon all crossed the whitewash more than once for Weymouth & Portland, while Bridport did score a couple of their own as well.

“It was a bit of an anti-climax and we couldn’t really take anything from it,” said home coach Paul Harding. “People lost interest in the result as it didn’t really matter.

“We loaned them a couple of players and that made the scrums competitive. We were a lot stronger and I thought hooker Billy Haine was outstanding.”

Bridport will start 2016 in fifth place in the Dorset & Wilts Two South table, eight points behind New Milton Seconds but eight clear of Ellingham & Ringwood Seconds.

Their next fixture is at home to Bournemouth Thirds on Saturday, January 9.

Meanwhile, Harding’s go into the second half of the campaign in second, two points behind leaders Yeovil.

Also at Monmouth Avenue on Saturday, Bridport Seconds conceded their Dorset & Wilts Four clash with Weymouth & Portland Seconds.

Bottom-of-the-table Bridport are due to host Blandford Seconds on January 9.