BRIDPORT 24

WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND 29

DESPITE a roaring finale, Bridport were defeated 29-24 at home by Weymouth & Portland on Saturday in Dorset & Wilts Two South.

The hosts started magnificently, scoring two early tries through Ricky Stubbs.

But the away side fought back and scored 26 unanswered points to put them firmly in control

Bridport fought back reducing the gap to five points and had chances at the death, but could not score that all important try.

Back in December Bridport were forced to concede the away fixture with Weymouth and Portland due to a lack of front-row specialists.

However the game was played out as a friendly and the Blues took a bit of a pasting in the process.

The return leg was always going to be a more accurate reflection of the strength of the two sides.

With a point to prove the home side started with great intensity, first in defence and then in attack, as Will Haggerty made a great run down the left.

He was brought down just short of the line, but Bridport’s forwards kept the pressure on, winning a crucial scrum against the head, releasing Ricky Stubbs to wrestle his way over the line for the first score. He was unable to add the conversion.

Weymouth & Portland struck back immediately, catching the hosts offside and earning three points from the penalty.

Haggerty was again in the action as he made a smart interception and galloped over half the pitch to score under the posts. Stubbs kicked the extra two points.

Another good run down the left saw Jason Blackmore agonisingly close to scoring, but again strong scrummaging kept up the pressure on the visitors and Stubbs was able to score his second try, albeit unconverted.

At 17-3 Bridport were looking comfortable but the visitors were beginning to go through the gears, a lineout and drive led to a converted try, and then a superb offload from Weymouth’s fly-half resulted in another score.

The away side scored three more points from a penalty kick and suddenly they were 24-17 up at half-time.

The second half suffered from a number of stoppages through injury and although Bridport enjoyed plenty of possession and territory they were unable to convert their advantage into points.