Match report: Lytchett Minster (H)

The Daggers got their first win of the season in dramatic style with Mitch Waters converting Stewart Burton’s try with the last kick of the match for a 28-26 victory. It was well-deserved victory in an entertaining match in front of a large crowd at the Brewery Ground.

It all started badly for Bridport when – from the kick off – Lytchett almost scored in the corner with the Daggers escaping with a drop out from their own line. However, the escape was short lived as Lytchett gathered the ball and spun it down the line for a score on the corner, well converted. The Daggers mounted a solid reply when a quickly taken penalty got them into the opponents 22.

Some good forward drives were held by a good defence forcing the Daggers to knock on and allowing Lytchett to clear their lines. Lytchett got into the Daggers 22 but were reduced to 14 men after a high tackle. Charlie Samways cleared long, but the line out was not straight. The Daggers turned the scrum over and with a magnificent driving maul towards the Lytchett 22 forced a penalty, taken quickly by Corbin Newman for a converted try.

The game was being played at a cracking pace with both teams showing excellent skills in attack and defence. The Daggers got a break when Lytchett conceded a penalty after excellent work by Nathan Herbert with Jed Gravelle making sure of the three points with a confident kick.

Lytchett now applied the pressure and the Daggers escaped when Lytchett made a clean break after running an excellent line in the backs only for the pass to be forward. Their forwards however kept the pressure on and drove over for a converted try.

From the restart the Daggers again showed their excellent mauling skills driving hard from a scrum conceded by Lytchett towards the 22 setting up Samways for a lightning run from the back of the maul to the corner for an unconverted try and a well-deserved half time lead of 15-14.

The second half started with the Daggers continuing to apply the pressure forcing Lytchett back into their 22 after an excellent kick to the corner. From the lineout Lytchett were offside and Waters made sure of the 3 points. From the restart Lytchett drove into the Daggers 22 but the ball was cleared and from the lineout. Lytchett were penalised and Waters opted to go for the posts from just inside the Daggers half and, with a superb kick, extended the Daggers lead to 21-14.
The game now lost some of its momentum with the Daggers dominant scrum not able to make any real impression on their opponent’s defence who, following a series of line outs, were gradually getting back into the game.

After a prolonged period of pressure in the Daggers 22 with several penalties conceded, their defence was finally broken with a try in the corner which with an excellent kick tied the scores with 10 minutes to go.

Lifted by the score Lytchett turned the screw and with the forwards setting up a good position excellent handling in the backs gave them and unconverted try in the corner. The Daggers showed tremendous spirit when after a Lytchett penalty pushed them back to their own half they forced Lytchett to concede a penalty. Waters found touch on their 22 and a superb catch and drive with backs joining in gave Burton the score and Water’s keeping his cool for a thoroughly deserved victory.

The next match is away to Oakmedians on 29th October.