LYTCHETT MINSTER 24
BRIDPORT 12
BRIDPORT lost their six-game unbeaten run as Lytchett Minster claimed a 24-12 victory in their Counties Two Tribute Dorset & Wilts South contest.
On what should have been a rest weekend, the Daggers played this rescheduled match with a side short in numbers and weakened by injuries after their tough match last week.
They put up a spirited performance against a full-strength Lytchett side suffering a three-try blitz by their opponents shortly after half-time to go down by 12 points.
From the kick-off, the Daggers played with intent and were soon into Lytchett’s 22.
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After a dominant scrum, Charlie Samways threaded a kick through the Lytchett defence for Jake Pellow to beat the cover and touch down, well converted by Sam Petchey for a 7-0 lead.
Lytchett were quickly on the offensive forcing a penalty on the Daggers’ 22 which was dragged wide.
From the drop-out on the line, Lytchett drove forward but the Daggers turned the ball over and Samways cleared long to touch.
Bridport turned the ball over and excellent hands down the line gave Pellow a run over halfway but his offload went loose into touch.
Both sides were playing a cagey game with neither able to dominate and even when the Daggers lost second row Gary England to a knee injury, occasional replacement Pete Phillips maintained their scrum dominance with a couple taken against the head.
However, against this the Lytchett defence held firm and despite some good handling by the Daggers’ backs and forwards, they could not get the breakthrough score.
Lytchett gained field position in the Daggers’ 22 and converted an easy penalty chance giving the visitors a 7-3 half-time lead.
What followed was slightly unexpected as Lytchett in a 15-minute period scored three converted tries with their backs running excellent lines to break the Daggers’ defence and establish a 24-7 lead.
Bridport’s response embodied the real spirit of their side this season.
Heads did not go down and they took the game to their opponents.
For most of the remainder of the half they kept Lytchett pinned in their own half with a combination of dogged forward play and, when the opportunity presented it, some good handling by the backs.
Their scrum continued to dominate with some excellent drives on their own ball but as in the first half they were up against a well-drilled Lytchett defence who had a full set of substitutes to call on.
Several times the Daggers were held up just short until finally from a quickly-taken penalty, Phillips drove over in the corner for a well-deserved unconverted try.
With captain Jed Gravelle off after a head knock, the Daggers played the last ten minutes with only 14 men but prevented Lytchett from scoring.
Bridport play Puddletown away on Saturday and the hope is that some of the injured regulars will be available.
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