BRIDPORT 16

SHERBORNE SECONDS 11

SHERBORNE arrived at the Brewery Field boasting a record of eight wins from eight this season in Dorset & Wilts One South, but that counted for nothing as a brilliant Bridport display saw that run come to an abrupt end.

However, for the first 20 minutes it looked like Sherborne were going to make it nine on the spin, taking an 8-0 lead and preventing the hosts from entering their half.

Winger Steffan Hammel-berg got the visitors’ try, which went unconverted, then a penalty in front of the Bridport posts extended their advantage.

The Blues’ second foray into the visitors’ half was more promising. Mike Pibworth led the charge from a tap penalty, the ball went through four sets of hands, but was held up on the line.

The resulting Sherborne scrum was pushed back over its own line and from the reset number eight Pibworth picked up and drove towards the whitewash.

Pibworth was held up but not released by the tackler, resulting in a Bridport penalty.

After kicking to touch captain Dave Cutting wormed his way over through a barrage of bodies to touch down. Rory Greening converted and the Blues were back in it at half-time.

Sherborne’s pack, which had been so dominant at the start, was imploding under Bridport pressure in the second half and Blues centre Will Haggerty was putting in some bone-crunching tackles.

Bridport went in front for the first time when Sherborne infringed under their own posts and Greening made no mistake to kick the three points.

Soon after, a large deer raced across the pitch and the distraction seemed to let Sherborne back into the game.

They regained the lead with a penalty and the match levelled out in the second period.

Front row changes saw Bridport’s scrum domination decline and the flair of the first half was replaced by some dogged play at both ends.

Greening mastered two long-range penalties to put Bridport 16-11 up and that is how it finished as the hosts ended a run of four successive defeats.

The firsts can build on this result when they travel to Swanage & Wareham Seconds this Saturday.

Palmers Wine Store Man of the Match: Tim Edwards

Bridport are sending candidates to a two-day entry-level referee course on December 14-15 at Wimborne. If anyone fancies taking up the whistle they should call John Patten on 01308 425109.

LYTCHETT MINSTER SECONDS 23 BRIDPORT SECONDS 17

LYTCHETT Minster won the clash between Dorset & Wilts Four’s basement boys but there was a losing bonus point for battling Bridport.

The match looked like it could be quite one-sided when the visitors took an early lead.

Fly-half Tom Wren easily cut through the Lytchett defence and supplied Tony Dommett with the try-scoring pass.

Unfortunately, Bridport failed to capitalise on this impressive start and got dragged into a hard slog up front against a much larger pack.

Lytchett’s forward domination resulted in three almost identical tries as they kept the ball tight to batter their way over the line for a 17-5 half-time lead.

Poor discipline in front of the Bridport posts resulted in Lytchett increasing their advantage with a brace of successful penalties.

But as the second half progressed Bridport eventually began to settle and play to their strengths.

Rob Parker ran the ball out of defence and some great interplay with Chris Lamb and Darren Brown enabled Jamie Livingston to cross.

Then, a few minutes later, quick distribution resulted in Callum Barnes making ground down the wing until he was illegally stopped by a high tackle.

The referee had very little option but to award a penalty try much to the visitors’ delight.

With renewed belief, Bridport tried to run the ball at every opportunity but Lytchett were able to withstand the onslaught to gain the win.

Bridport can take solace from the good rugby they played to get back into the game in addition to the losing bonus point.

Despite winning two of five games this season, Bridport are one place of the foot of the table after having to forfeit games against Swanage & Wareham and Weymouth.

However, Saturday’s bonus point takes their points tally back up to zero, one better than Lytchett.

The Blues host Weymouth Thirds at the Brewery Field on Saturday.