BRIDPORT 0

DORSET DOCKERS 65

BRIDPORT had no answer to Dorset & Wilts One South high-fliers Dorset Dockers as they were thumped at the Brewery Ground.

The Blues were under pressure from the start after only being able to start with 13 players owing to player suspension, injuries and personal family issues.

Although contesting strongly throughout the game, they failed to make a mark on the scoreboard.

Early Bridport pressure pinned Dockers back and a missed penalty nearly gave them the perfect start, but broken play and missed tackles saw the Dockers score two breakaway tries to lead 12-0 after 20 minutes.

A period of further home pressure, following another missed penalty, saw the hosts almost score under the posts.

Great work from Griff James in the line-out and from the base of the scrum helped create some opportunities but no scores resulted.

Having survived, the Dockers were able to use their extra manpower and created overlaps to run in three further tries to lead 29-0 at half-time.

Conceding a soft try at the start of the second half, Bridport’s defence was again pierced twice straight from the kick-offs.

Although now up to 15 players and contesting well, they could not stop the flow of Dockers' attacks who ran in further tries to run out easy winners.

The Blues, who are fourth from bottom in the league, next entertain Lytchett Minster in two weeks' time, which will be a must-win situation against a team below them in the league.

This Saturday is the vice-presidents' lunch at the club followed by England versus Wales 6 Nations on the TV.

At the match Bridport Rugby Club held a minute's silence following the recent loss of two of their long standing Vice Presidents: Doug Metcalfe, who was the grandfather of Tim and Jack Edwards who have played for Bridport a long time, and Tim Woodrow, whose playing career ended as captain at Exeter before their Premiership days.

The club send their sympathies to both families for their recent losses and thanks for their long term support of the club.