BRIDPORT 44 PUDDLETOWN 13

BRIDPORT needed to put last week’s painful loss to Dorchester Seconds behind them, and they did so at home against a spirited Puddletown side, emerging worthy victors.

It was a victory based on a much more solid defence, at one stage resisting four consecutive penalties close to their own line and conceding only one try all afternoon.

Typifying the defensive effort was a last-ditch tap tackle from the Blues’ Bret Chant to foil a promising attack.

Bridport were first on the scoreboard with fly-half Will Everitt catching the blindside defence napping to coast in for a try, to which he was unable to add the conversion. Gusty conditions again made life difficult for the kickers.

Puddletown responded with a penalty kick from the boot of Tom Yeatman as Bridport were guilty of holding on at the breakdown.

Great running from winger Murray Rawstorne set up Dave Cutting to score Bridport’s next, again the kick went wide.

But again Bridport were guilty of conceding a penalty in kickable range to keep Puddletown in the hunt at 10-6.

Everitt added three points for a penalty at the other end and the visitors missed an opportunity to do likewise.

It was now that Bridport really turned it on, the forwards marching Puddletown back, forcing a penalty, and from the line-out driving them back some more.

James Tuck touched down for the try to make it 18-6.

With confidence high, the Blues played more expansively with some excellent handling from both forwards and backs.

Another good off-load from Rawstorne launched Al McNab over the try line to end the half at 23-6.

The quality of play was not quite as high in the second half, but Bridport’s forwards remained dominant and pressure at a fivemetre scrum forced Puddletown to concede a penalty try which was converted.

Liam Poole, on for the injured Cutting, added another try from short range. The conversion made it 37-6 to the Blues.

To their credit Puddletown didn’t give up and when the hosts lost a player to a yellow card they came back with a converted try of their own.

Bridport were to have the last word though, as McNab took a great line to score under the posts, the conversion was added and a convincing victory was the hosts to savour.