BRIDPORT 10

WIMBORNE II 28

BRIDPORT suffered a second successive defeat in Dorset & Wilts One South.

Whilst the margin of defeat was as last week, the team with key players unavailable gave a very determined performance against a strong Wimborne side who are unbeaten this season.

From the kick-off, Wimborne exerted all the pressure pinning the Blues in their 22 and only very good clearing kicks from Freddie Woolner kept their line intact.

It was soon evident that the Blues were missing their line-out specialist Mike Pibworth as they were unable to take any control in the line-outs and, from a knock-on, Wimborne took the resultant scrum and spun the ball through their backs to score in the corner, the conversion was missed.

From the kick-off, it was again one-way traffic with excellent defensive work from Woolner with booming clearance kicks. The Blues did get into the Wimborne half when Daragh Mcoughlin who was leading by example broke clear and gained a penalty which Woolner put into touch inside the Wimborne 22.

However, the problems in the line-out meant Wimborne won the turnover and cleared their lines.

The Blues, while not getting a lot of ball, were able to keep Wimborne under pressure especially in the scrums and with excellent defence were denying Wimborne territory and scoring opportunities.

From another clearance kick from Woolner Wimborne gained a penalty and with an excellent touch kick to the five-metre line easily won the line-out, got the ball down the line and after good Blues' defence their forwards drove over.

From the kick-off, the hosts capitalised on some loose Wimborne play with Mcoughlin kicking through and gaining a penalty in front of the posts which Rich Layzell converted to put the Blues on the scoresheet.

Bridport now enjoyed the best period of play and, from the kick-off, good handling in the backs enabled Nathan Herbert to put an excellent kick behind the Wimborne defence. Mcoughlin following up made an excellent pick up and offloaded to Woolner who went over in the corner.

Layzell made an excellent kick from the touchline which went over from the post to tie the scores at 10-10.

With half-time approaching, the Blues were unlucky to have a knock on missed enabling Wimborne to get a penalty and go into half-time with a 13-10 lead.

Straight from the re-start, Wimborne spun the ball wide and a missed tackle enabled their winger to score in the corner.

The Blues' defence and scrummaging was excellent and they continued to deny Wimborne the territory to force scoring opportunities.

With Wimborne dominating the line-outs they eventually, after numerous turnovers, were able to get their backs into space and breach the defence to score in the corner.

The Blues with a series of dominant scrums and a couple of penalties now exerted pressure in the Wimborne 22 and from a line-out, what was obviously a training ground move didn’t come off and Wimborne cleared and were able to break through the defence and score an unconverted try.

The Blues' next game is on Saturday away to Oakmeadians in the semi-final of the Dorset & Wilts Seniors Vase.

Before the kick-off, both teams lined up and observed a one-minute silence in memory of those who fell in conflict.