Match Report: Oakmeadians

With Bridport welcoming back Mitch Waters and Sam Petchey in the backs and Daragh McLoughlin in the forwards there was hope that the disappointing defeat last week could be put behind them.

In an entertaining game the Daggers came very close to getting to some well-earned points, only to be denied by two late Oakmeadians tries to go down 24-32.

The omens were not good, when shortly after kick off the Oaks drove deep into the Bridport 22, forcing a 5 metre line out and from the resulting catch and drive forced their way over for a 0-5 lead.

Playing into a stiff breeze the Bridport response was immediate, the forwards driving well into the 22, forcing a penalty taken by Waters which just drifted wide in the wind. Not to be out done, from the dropout the ever reliable Nathan Herbert ran back and an excellent pass enabled Jordan Neil to score in the corner.

From the kick off the Bridport backs were intent on taking the game to Oakmeadians with Waters making an excellent break only for the offload to go to ground. This was followed by another break by McLoughlin but again the final pass let him down. Oaks gained a penalty and, after a long kick to touch, repeated the first try with a catch and drive from the lineout.

The Daggers defence was now having to work hard to keep out a resurgent Oaks attack and after yet another scrum going backwards McLoughin got the ball back to Herbert to make an excellent clearing kick. From the line out the loose ball was gathered by Oaks to score in the corner.

Oaks kicked straight out from the kick off and Bridport had a lineout penalty which Waters converted. Bridport backs went in search of a score before half time and Neil was unlucky to be called back for a forward pass when clear into the 22. The Oaks defence remained strong, leading 8-15 at half time.

At the start of the second half the Daggers gained two early penalties which Waters, with the wind behind him, opted to kick taking Bridport to within a point of Oaks.

Bridport continued to apply pressure with the backs gaining in confidence and running the ball when possible to put the Oaks defence under pressure. Jed Greville made an amazing break from halfway into the Oaks 22 but his offload did not allow Petchey to score. The Oaks offended and Waters fourth penalty put Bridport in front.

Excellent hands from Waters and Neil put the Daggers into the Oaks 22 unfortunately the move broke down when McLoughlin ran into the referee. The Oaks gained a scrum penalty but somehow managed to spill the ball allowing Waters to pick up and score under the posts.

As is so often the case Oaks got straight back into the game when Bridport conceded a penalty and the Oaks forwards drove over by the posts.

The Bridport backs continued to play with ambition by make some strong runs from out of their 22 but could not make the final pass count. The sucker punch was when a speculative kick through took a horrible bounce in front of Harrison Crane allowing the chasing Oaks player to gather and put his side in front 27-24.

Sadly, the Daggers could not hang on for a bonus point as in one final play Oaks scored in the corner.