BRIDPORT 29

OAKMEADIANS 19

BRIDPORT stretched their unbeaten run to six games in a hard-fought and well-crafted 29-19 win against second-place Oakmeadians at the Brewery Ground.

The first half was a close-run contest, with returning stalwart Mitch Waters, usually on form with his place kicking, missing a couple of penalties and a conversion of his own try leaving the Daggers 12-11 down at half-time.

The second half was a strong all-round performance from the Daggers, with two Jack Pellow tries giving them a 29-14 victory.

From the kick-off, Daggers’ forwards soon made inroads into the Oaks’ 22 through Daragh Mcloughlin and Pellow and after a 22 line-out they forced the first of Waters missed penalties.

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Bridport continued their attacking play with Wes Lewis and Charlie Samways linking well at half back and giving the backs plenty of quality ball which kept play in the Oaks’ half and forcing a second penalty again missed by Waters.

The subsequent drop out was charged down and Samways broke into the 22 and forced a penalty which Waters converted for the first score of the match.

Daggers were straight back into the Oaks’ half with a break by Jude Appleton who was well tackled and conceded a knock-on.

Bridport’s scrum, which this season has been superb, forced the Oaks to knock on.

Clean ball from Lewis to Samways enabled a quick offload to Waters who drove over from the 22 to extend the Daggers lead.

Sadly the Daggers defence was asleep when Oaks turned over the kick off and broke the defence for an immediate response scoring in the corner.

Daggers soon regained the advantage when Mcloughlin broke free and over halfway forcing a penalty converted by Waters.

Again, the Daggers defence was caught napping when Oaks took a quick penalty and scored under the posts. As hard as they tried with some flowing moves by the backs, the Daggers could not regain the lead and went in a point down at half-time.

Bridport regained the lead in the second half with a superb long-range penalty from Waters.

Oaks began to put the pressure on in the 22 but good defence and a Lewis kick cleared their lines, and when Daggers got a free-kick at the resulting line-out Samways cleared long and Oaks knocked on.

An excellent driving scrum gave superb ball and allowed Samways time for a cross-kick to Jed Gravelle who was unlucky not to take cleanly.

Oaks kicked the loose ball straight out and from the line-out Mcloughlin set up a ruck with the ball going down the line to Pellow who was held up, quick recycled ball to Waters was again thwarted by the Oaks’ defence forcing a scrum.

Oaks kicked from the base of the scrum, the ball bounced wickedly for Pellow and the onrushing Oaks attack won the kick and chase and scored in the corner which was well converted for 19-14.

The Daggers’ response was immediate with Lewis making a clean break into the 22, quick ball out to Pellow resulting in a five-metre penalty.

From the tap and go, Waters sucked in the defence and quick ball and a long pass out to Pellow enabled him to just squeeze in the corner to tie the scores.

From the kick-off, Mcloughlin and Pellow combined well taking the Daggers into the Oaks’ half and when Lewis made a clean break Samways could not hold his offload.

Oaks cleared their lines and when they tried to clear the ball from a scrum on halfway Pellow intercepted to run clear and score under the posts.

Waters soon made it a two-score game with a successful penalty and the Daggers played out the remainder of the match with controlled forward play and possession rugby.

Bridport's man of the match was Wes Lewis, who also saw Bridport FC match-winner and work colleague Tom Richardson awarded the same accolade for the Bees across the road at St Mary's Field.

Their next match is the rearranged fixture away to Lytchett Minster on Saturday, February 4.