ELLINGHAM & RINGWOOD 30

BRIDPORT 26

BRIDPORT came away with two bonus points after losing at Ellingham and Ringwood.

Managing to score four tries and not loose by more then seven points allowed the The Blues to not travel home empty handed.

After the previous week's impressive home win against Puddletown, Bridport were only one point behind their next opponents in Ellingham and Ringwood seconds.

However, once again the offering of players to make the 100 mile round trip to play away was short and even coach Wes Lewis had to dust off his boots to fill the holes in the backs.

Eventually losing 30-26, Bridport were unlucky not to win the game. A high penalty count cost the visitors as the home team kicked six points from penalties to ultimately win the game.

Lewis was frustrated with the penalty count. He said: "We came out firing. The first 15 minutes was all us. Then we lost momentum as we gave away penalty after penalty."

An early converted try from Mitch Waters set The Blues of for a strong start, however two penalties scored by the opposition nullified Bridport's lead to one point.

When Ellingham and Ringwood went over for their first try Bridport were behind and were not to come back again. A couple more tries and Bridport were going into the break completely out of the game.

However Lance Samways crossed the whitewash for a late first half score that once converted left Bridport only behind 20-14 at the break.

Ellingham and Ringwood would come strong from the interval and score the first try of the half. Fortunately Rory Greening was at hand to keep Bridport in the game and only four points behind leading into the last 20 minutes.

A final Ellingham and Ringwood try was forcing Bridport to travel home empty handed, with only three tries and more then seven points behind.

Nevertheless spirits stayed high and a Bridport scrum five meters out from the opposition line was capitalised by Waters for his second try of the game, leaving Bridport to travel back home with two points.

This week Bridport will hope to return to winning ways as they face Lytchett Minster Seconds at home.