ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD II 16 BRIDPORT 17

BRIDPORT claimed their third victory of the season by a margin of two points or less in a Dorset & Wilts Two South game that went right down to the wire.

The Blues’ encounter away to Ellingham & Ringwood Seconds was a nerve-jangling affair, and one they could so easily have lost.

It looked at first as if it was all going to be plain sailing for the visitors.

Right from the kick-off Bridport were the more dynamic, with forwards and backs combining to send Fred Everitt through the defence for a try. Will Everitt was unable to add the conversion.

The hosts responded with a period of pressure which was repulsed by a very solid Bridport defence. However, the referee was less impressed and repeatedly penalised the Blues for killing the ball at the breakdown.

Having failed to break the Bridport defence, Ellingham & Ringwood finally kicked one of those penalties to get them on the scoreboard.

The kick from the restart went straight out and so the hosts had the advantage of a scrum put-in on halfway.

Bridport’s scrum, which was excellent all afternoon, proved dominant and the pack secured quick possession for the backs.

They again fired Fred Everitt through a porous defence for his second try.

Better still was to come as Bridport went through numerous phases, keeping the ball alive despite the hosts’ best efforts, and Stephen Davies claimed the touchdown.

Will Everitt slotted the conversion from a tricky angle to make it 17-3.

At this point, Bridport were playing all the rugby but again falling foul of the referee who gave hope to the opposition with two kickable penalties.

Both were taken to close the gap to 17-9, while Bridport also had a couple of men sent to the sin bin.

Something of a stalemate then ensued but was broken when a careless pass from one of Bridport’s backs was spilled, leading to his opposite number grabbing a runaway try.

The conversion was taken and suddenly all the good work the visitors had put in was in danger of being wasted.

The momentum was now with the hosts and again Bridport conceded a penalty within kicking distance – they also picked up another yellow card to go with it.

Happily for the Blues and their supporters the kick at goal went wide and the whistle blew for full-time soon after.

Man of the match for Bridport was Joe Mace-McKenney.