Match Report: Salisbury II

Bridport followed up their away win at Swanage with a comprehensive 45-17 defeat of bottom club Salisbury II in Tribute Dorset & Wilts One South.

The Daggers ran in seven tries and with Mitch Waters on target with five conversions this result plus the home walkover over Bournemouth moves them to eighth in the table, 14 points clear of the bottom two.

Bridport fielded a side with a strong set of backs who would be looking to run the ball, ironically it was the forwards who scored first from a five-metre line-out.

A superb catch and drive saw the forwards charge over with Seamus Fitzgerald getting the ball down.

With the forwards dominating the scrums and rucks the ball was coming out to the backs but the Salisbury defence held firm until a clean five-metre line-out fed the ball to Jed Gravelle who with an electric burst of pace split the defence to score.

Bridport kept up the pressure with both man of the match Daragh McLoughlin and Waters making breaks into the opponents’ 22 only for the final pass to go astray.

The Daggers were also struggling with the strong wind in the line-outs, gaining attacking positions only to be called for being unstraight.

Despite the Daggers dominating the game, Salisbury were hanging on only to concede a try just before half-time, when on their own five-metre scrum the ball squirted out and Wes Lewis was first to react to touch down.

The game briefly boiled over before the half-time whistle with a Salisbury forward yellow carded.

The second half started with one additional yellow for each side, but the Daggers then quickly added to the score when after an intense period of pressure in the 22, Charlie Samways was held up just the short and popped the ball up for McLoughlin to score.

McLoughlin gained his second try shortly after when, following a superb Waters drive into the 22, quick recycling by the Daggers allowed Lewis a half break with McLoughlin on hand to take the offload and score.

The Salisbury backs when they had the ball looked dangerous and following a quickly-taken penalty the ball was out to the wing to score.

The Daggers had an immediate response when following an exchange of penalties Fitzgerald broke clear into the 22, the ball was quickly recycled but knocked on. From the scrum, Salisbury kicked downfield only for Nathan Herbert to break the defence and to be on hand to take the recycled ball and score in the corner.

Salisbury now started to throw the ball around in search of another score and following a break from halfway, stopped only by a great tackle from Sam Petchey, they quickly recycled the ball for a excellent score.

As the Daggers relaxed, Salisbury again showed their running skills to notch another try.

The Daggers’ response was immediate when from a line-out Will Murley drove into the 22 and the ball was well recycled for Waters to take the final score.

Bridport captain Andrew Livingston said: “After our poor performance at home to Salisbury this result meant a lot to the boys.

“The new year as brought on an increased amount of determination and fight within the squad, with the last two performances having been from a side that can compete at the top of the league next season.”