BRIDPORT 30

DORCHESTER II 20

A THIRD straight win for Bridport, against rivals Dorchester, has cemented the Blues' second position in Dorset & Wilts Two South.

Tries from both Nathan Herbert and David Cutting in the first and second halves allowed Bridport to pick a much required bonus-point win.

The only points in the first quarter came from a Rich Layzell penalty.

Both sides started more than cagey and produced poor and painful rugby viewing for the smattering of supporters who had opted to watch the Bridport game over England versus Argentina.

However, the contest soon settled and Mitch Waters once again showed a level of class to pull the strings and slowly began to control the match for Bridport.

The afternoon’s rugby did not start until 30 minutes in, a turnover on the Dorchester line allowed Herbert to dive in in the corner unopposed for his and the Blues' first try of the game.

Soon after, spectacular skill from Harry Richardson allowed the home side to pick up their second try.

After being tackled from behind, he kept the play alive by flicking the pass up to the oncoming Herbert as he was going down the floor.

Ten metres out and a cover tackle on the inside centre left the ball on the floor for Cutting to grubber over the line and collect to score his first.

At half-time, 13 points up and Bridport were cruising against their rivals. However, it was not long into the second half when the home support groaned as Bridport easily let the away team back in as one of their players ran unchallenged from the halfway line to give them their first try of the match.

Nevertheless, down the other end, a Waters floated pass over the outrushing Dorchester defence and fell into Herbert’s hands for him to run in from the 22 to score his second of the game. Layzell kicked the afters.

Once again, Dorchester came back into the game with a quick penalty and try. However, where Bridport heads may have dropped in the past, the 15 players went down the other end and took the game out of the away side’s hands.

First Waters kicked a difficult penalty from the ten-metre line. Then the forward pack worked hard around the Dorchester try line for Cutting to be able to snipe in from the back of a ruck to get his second of the game and to give the home side a bonus-point victory.

Dorchester could only manage a consolation try at the end of the game, but they were too far behind to take anything back with them.

In two weeks time, Bridport travel to face Oakmeadians Seconds who sit seven places below them.