BRIDPORT COLTS 11

WEYMOUTH COLTS 7

UNDER the new Ready4Rugby 10-a-side format, Bridport broke the stubborn resistance of Weymouth with an 11-tries-to-seven win.

Played with rules forbidding tackling amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Weymouth, playing away, put up a great resistance against nine Bridport Colts bolstered by players from Dorchester.

In four 15-minute sessions with breaks between, much needed in this fast format, Weymouth won two and lost two, but did not have substitutes.

Some of the rugby played by both sides was sublime with Will Newton, Oliver Hansford-Harvey and Tom Craven shining with tries for Bridport.

It was noticeable that in the session where Bridport captain Joe Swan was sidelined, his ability and mobility in sensing danger was missed and Weymouth won that quarter convincingly.

Overexuberant contact in a touch rugby game resulted in a Bridport player being sent off, but this should in no way cloud a terrific spectacle of rugby.

Weymouth’s 10 departed with pride and, having won two sessions, they had every right to call it a draw.