NORTH DORSET SECONDS 45

BRIDPORT 7

BRIDPORT team manager Arthur Barclay questioned the commitment levels of some players at the club after his side’s fixture at North Dorset Seconds ended 15 minutes early.

Following a couple of drop-outs before the game, Bridport went to North Dorset without any replacements before going down to 14 men early in the second half when an injured Will Haggerty had to leave the field.

Then with the hosts cruising to a 45-7 lead and several other Brid-port players nursing injuries, both captains and the referee decided to call an end to proceedings to prevent any further damage.

“It was a decision taken by both sides and the referee,” said Barclay. “We didn’t want to get any more injuries and with one game left we didn’t want the players getting hurt even more and missing that.

“I had a couple of players pull out in the morning and I was quite angry about that but it’s the way things are.

“We are really struggling for players and the Seconds only had a bare 15 as well.

“It seems that because we are in the middle of the league now with nothing to play for we haven’t got the commitment we had earlier in the season.

“Whether we win or lose we’ve got to see the season out.

“It’s about playing the whole season and not giving up halfway through when things start going a bit wrong.

“We don’t need that in the club. We need support and for everyone to get behind the club.

“We need commitment because we are really struggling for players.

“We’ve got a couple injured but we should be able to get a team out there.

“I must say though that the lads who did turn up against North Dorset fought to the end.”

North Dorset ran in seven tries with four in the first half followed by three in the truncated second period.

They took a 19-0 lead before Bridport prop Liam Poole found himself on the wing to crash over on 36 minutes. Bob Lester-Card converted.

The hosts stretched their advantage to 26-7 on the stroke of half- time and raced clear in the 15 minutes after the interval with three further tries, two of which were converted.

However, Haggerty was forced off with a back injury during this period and when other Bridport players, including Tony Herbert and Alex Newell, picked up knocks both sides and the referee decided to end the game early.

Bridport’s last Dorset & Wilts One South encounter this season sees them visit Swanage & Ware-ham Seconds on April 6.

Meanwhile, despite being down to the bare bones, Bridport Seconds beat Blandford Seconds 41-15.