Bridport retain clear advantage (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport retain clear advantage

8:40am Thursday 4th February 2010

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Bridport conceded points for the first time in 2010 on Saturday – but still continued on their seemingly inexorable march to Dorset & Wilts One South glory.

The comprehensive victory over Westbury at the Brewery Ground was the Blues’ 10th league triumph on the bounce and another stepping stone en route to the championship crown.

However, they had to come from behind after the visitors had converted an early penalty to earn a three-point advantage, which remained for some 20 minutes.

Resolute defending had kept Bridport at bay until three tries in the latter stages of the first half left the home side breathing a sigh of relief.

Jack Guilor and Paris Halkes-Wellstead chalked up a brace apiece while Tony Dommett, Ben Allen and Ethan Rawlings all inscribed their names on the scoresheet.

Speaking of their latest victory, Blues’ head coach Paul Ninnim said: “Westbury made it difficult for us for half-an-hour and they had a good pack of forwards.

“But I always thought our backs would come into the game and provide us with a cutting edge that we would be able to capitalise on.

“We’ve got a lot of pace in our team and must be one of the fittest sides in the league. We work a lot on improving our stamina and it is showing.

“It’s always nice to see that what we have been doing well in training is being transferred on to the pitch – we are progressing nicely.”

Although title rivals North Dorset Seconds squeezed past their Frome counterparts, Bridport still command a six-point lead at the summit with seven matches to play.

But Ninnim doesn’t subscribe to the view that the title race is as good as over, adding: “There are still some tough games coming up and we’ll have to continue to work hard and continue to win.”

Meanwhile, the Blues suffered a controversial 22-10 defeat in the first round of the Senior Vase against Southern League Counties side Sherborne on Tuesday night.

The score was deadlocked at 10-10 when Bridport looked to have notched a legitimate try deep into normal time.

However, the referee disallowed the score, claiming that the ball had not been grounded correctly, and Sherborne scored two tries in extra-time to progress.

Ninnim felt his experimental XV, for whom Mike Pibworth and Wes Lewis touched down, had been robbed of victory but he praised them for more than matched their higher-league opponents.

Elsewhere, Bridport Seconds’ inconsistent Dorset & Wilts Two South campaign rumbled on with a 17-3 defeat away to Dorchester Seconds.

Like the first team, the seconds have no league fixture this weekend.

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