Poole

10

Bridport Daggers

27

Bridport moved to the top of the league with a hard fought and controlled performance against a physical Poole side resulting in a 27-10 bonus point win.

Despite the heavy morning rain, the pitch was playing well and from the kick off Bridport started in lively fashion, running the ball back at their opponents but a line out penalty was taken quickly by Poole catching the defence unawares for an unconverted try.

The Daggers responded immediately when after a Poole scrum James Tuck intercepted and ran in unopposed with Waters converting.

After this flurry of scores, the rest of the half ebbed and flowed with both sides threatening their opponent’s lines but with the defences remaining strong no real clear cut chances were created. Bridport leading 7-5 at half time.

The second half started with Bridport not kicking 10 metres, but a superb scrum led to a strike against the head which Mitch Waters drove into the 22, offloading to James Tuck to finish with a powerful run into the corner for an unconverted try.

From the kick off Bridport again drove into the Poole 22 with Harry Richardson offloading to Dan Butler who made the break but the ball was knocked on. Poole made good ground from the scrum but were forced into touch on the 22. The Daggers gained a penalty allowing Waters to clear. The lineout was turned over but after a good Waters break another knock on allowed Poole to clear. Bridport came again and this time forced a penalty in the Poole 22 which Waters converted.

From the kick off Will Murley drove strongly and after being turned over Poole had a player yellow carded. From the resulting scrum a superb pick up and run from the back of a retreating scrum from Jude Appleton-Scott allowed him to draw the Poole blindside defence and offload to Dave Cutting who dived hard into the corner for the third unconverted try.

From the kick off Bridport, with an overlap, tried to run out of defence instead of opting for a clearing kick and knocked on. From the resulting scrum Poole gained a penalty which was quickly taken to score an unconverted try.

The Daggers showed their composure – which was evident throughout the whole match – by forcing a line out turnover in the Poole 22 and the ball was moved quickly from Dave Cutting to Waters who fed Oscar Tompkins to run in through the defence for a converted try.

Bridport now closed the game down with some sensible play in defence and a kick and chase from Ellis Blackburn into the Poole 22 resulted in a penalty which Waters just drifted wide.

Bridport’s next game is against second placed Oakmedians at home on 16th November, kick off is set for 14:30.