Bridport Daggers

22

Ellingham & Ringwood II

21

Bridport Daggers ended their league season at home with a tight win over Ellingham & Ringwood II.

It was very evident in the opening sections of the game that both sides were fielding stronger sides than may have been possible during the earlier part of the season. As a result of this, a close encounter began with Daggers getting on the scoreboard first through a penalty kick from the boot of Sam Petchey, who was prolific with the kicking tee all day.

With a heavy pack, Ellingham & Ringwood carried close to the ruck and some powerful pick-ups caught Daggers slow to roll away. From the resulting penalty, Harry Westcott sailed a kick through the uprights against a powerful wind.

With their lineout heavily disrupted by the wind, Daggers’ captain Hugh Vivian took the initiative to raise the tempo and quickly tap and go from penalties. One of these moments caught Ellingham & Ringwood slow to retreat the full ten meters and Petchey once again slotted a long-range kick to regain the lead.

Keeping to their forward carrying tactics, Ellingham & Ringwood continued to gain ground and put the Daggers’ defence under pressure. Despite having kept the ball within the forwards, sensing space out wide, fly half Henry Benson moved the ball down the line to Josh Milne-Riggs who scored for an unconverted try in the corner.

Before the first half ended, Daggers fought to regain the lead. Pressure and ill-discipline from Ellingham and Ringwood at the breakdown enabled Petchey to take two successful penalty kicks.

Looking to kick on from where the first half ended, a fluid passage of play for Daggers placed Ellingham and Ringwood on the back foot. Quick ball from scrum half Euan Chant caught the defending team offside, which provided Petchey with the opportunity to give Daggers a buffer on their lead with a penalty kick at goal.

Having fought hard to get themselves ahead, all of this work was undone when Ellingham & Ringwood built phases through their forwards, reverting to carries close to the ruck. The pressure was too much for Daggers and George Guy drove his way over under the posts for a converted try to bring the scores level.

Moments after their try, Ellingham and Ringwood caught Daggers in an offside position, enabling Westcott to give his side the lead.

In the closing stages of the match, Daggers fought for the try to regain the lead and give themselves the best opportunity to win. With Vivian raising the tempo with impressive carries, Andy Easton, playing his last game before retirement, finished off a move to power his way over for a converted try.

With the lead in fine balance, Ellingham and Ringwood threw everything they could at Daggers. A fantastic try-saving tackle in the corner from Harrison Wilkins, who had defended heroically all day, kept the away side out. Feeling they still had time to secure a win, Westcott took a penalty kick to get back within one point of Daggers. However, it was Daggers defence that remained on top to earn a win from their final league game.

Daggers’ next and final game of the season will be at home for the Brown Bowler against Crewkerne on 20th April 2024. Also, the club will be hosting their annual President vs Chairman’s match on 13th April with faces old and new welcome to participate.