OAKMEADIANS 12

BRIDPORT 56

WITH their nearest rivals Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew losing, the Blues returned to the top of the Wadworth Dorset & Wilts Two South table on points difference and with a game in hand after a 10-try demolition of Oakmeadians.

For the second time in a month the Blues played a rearranged game on a free weekend but with player commitment they were able to put out a strong side.

From the kick off, the Blues showed their intent with the forwards driving into the Oaks’ half. They were soon on the scoresheet when, after a series of turnovers, the ball went out to Oscar Tompkins who ran in from 30 yards with Freddie Woolner converting.

A swirling wind was making conditions difficult at the line-out but Woolner’s prodigious kicking out of hand kept the Blues in their opponents’ half and after a series of plays in the Oaks’ 22 Sam Roberts-Wray chipped behind the defence but the bounce of the ball just eluded him.

From the resulting scrum there was a great interchange of passes from Livingston and Roberts-Wray, who went in for an excellently worked try. The Blues came again from the kick-off forcing errors and good clearing kicks forced Oaks to defend in their 22. From a scrum, Andy Livingston sent the ball out to Tompkins for his second try.

Bridport soon had their bonus-point try when Dave Cutting and Woolner drove over halfway, from a resulting penalty Woolner’s long kick just missed touch but forced a 22 drop out by Oaks. The ball was collected well by Tony Herbert who fed Livingston and a great long pass to Freddie Woolner created the space for him to score in the corner.

Oaks at last created some momentum in the Blues’ half and after a series of quickly taken penalties scored an unconverted try, the Blues going in 22-5 up at half-time.

At the start of the second half, the Blues’ defence went to sleep and allowed the Oaks’ forwards to slice through for a converted try.

Bridport’s response was immediate, despite conceding a scrum from the kick-off they forced Oaks to concede penalties and from a five-metre line-out clean ball allowed Nathan Herbert to feed Livingston for an unconverted try.

Bridport cleared the kick-off with a long Woolner kick and when Oaks returned the ball Paul Maloney with a great catch drove into the Oaks’ half.

The forwards set up the ruck and the ball was spun out to Roberts-Wray for his second try.

Bridport now had their tails up with forwards and backs combining superbly as Maloney fed George Hussey in for the score. The best score of the match followed the kick-off, with a superb take and pop pass from Hussey to Woolner who drove through the onrushing home forwards and went the whole length of the field to score in the corner.

Oaks briefly threatened the Blues’ line a couple of times but great defence kept them out and when a well earned penalty allowed Woolner to clear long the Blues capitalised on poor Oaks defence.

A driving scrum was halted just short, the ball going out to Tom Gamwell to score, well converted by Rich Layzell. With the last play of the match, Gamwell was just held up short but quick ball by the backs put Hussey over for his second try.

*All rugby is suspended until Tuesday, April 14.