BRIDPORT 24

SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 29

DESPITE two brilliant individual tries either side of half time the Blues were unable hold on to a winning score with the defence tiring in the last quarter going down to a strong running Swanage side.

Rich Layzell salvaged some pride converting a penalty with the last kick of the match to gain a losing bonus point.

The Blues kicked off with the ball not going 10 metres and from the subsequent scrum good pressure resulted in a turnover with Freddie Woolner making a good clearance kick.

Bridport were on top in the scrums but were guilty of conceding too many turnovers giving up a promising position in the Swanage 22 after a good break from Dan Hegarty.

From the resulting breakout, Swanage started to dominate possession and were camped in the Bridport half for a good period of the first half.

The Blues' defence held up and Woolner made several good clearing kicks but his side were unable to get out of their half. Daragh Mcoughlin finally got a clean break which his work rate deserved into the Swanage 22 and gained a penalty for Swanage not rolling away which Layzell duly converted for the first points of the half.

From the kick off, the Blues were penalised but got a turnover and Woolner with a great clearance kick gave them an attacking line out on the 22.

Mcoughlin with a great catch then drove into the heart of the Swanage defence evading tackles to score under the posts with Layzell converting to take the half-time score to 10-0 to the Blues.

The second half started with Richard Pearce making a great run into the 22 from a Swanage clearance kick but again a turnover allowed Swanage to clear their lines.

Some loose play from the Blues gave Swanage a penalty which was quickly taken running strongly through the Blues' defence to score under the posts.

Dave Cutting with an aggressive run out charged the conversion kick down.

From the kick off, the Blues gained a turnover on halfway and, from the resulting scrum, Woolner made a scintillating break sidestepping his way through the defence to score a great try which he could not convert.

The Blues then applied further pressure with Swanage penalised after a good break from Cutting with Layzell adding the points to give them a 21-5 lead.

However, as is often the case, poor defending gave Swanage a break into the 22 and despite a good last-ditch tackle from Woolner they were able to spin the ball out for an unconverted try.

With captain Mcoughlin off the pitch with a shoulder injury, the Blues spurned a penalty in front of the posts, going for a quick tap and losing the ball, allowing Swanage to clear their lines.

With the defence tiring, Swanage made good ground into the 22 and then with the line at their mercy dropped the ball.

It was a short reprieve as with full-back Woolner injured they scored two tries in quick succession to take a 22-21 lead.

In the final 10 minutes, the Blues conceded a further converted try but came back gamely to obtain a penalty which Layzell converted for the losing bonus point.

Next up on Saturday is a crucial away derby against bottom club Weymouth & Portland.