Match Report: Wimborne II

A rampant Bridport rugby team, put nine tries past travelling opposition Wimborne as they won their Dorset and Wilts One league game 57-14.

Mitch Waters, Jordan Neil, Sam Petchy and Nathan Herbert, all picked up two tries, with the final Bridport score coming from the unlikely source of Will Murley.

For the first few minutes, the game looked fairly even, with neither team managing to make major inroads in the opposing defence. However, five minutes in, on his 100th cap for the club and as Captain for the day, Waters tapped and went from a penalty from 15 meters out, fending off tackles to score first.

The in-form Neill, once again showed his lethal finishing with his two tries, earning himself the man of the match award. Ten minutes after the first score, the winger weaved past three Wimborne defenders from 40 meters out to score the solo try of the day.

Ten points up, Bridport’s confidence grew. A perfectly executed lineout allowed the backs to work in tandem off a first-phase move. Simple hands eventually put Petchey through a hole to tear over the line for his first.

The potential of a comeback looked like a possibility as Daggers’ blindside flanker, Dan Butler, received a yellow card for tripping an opposition player. Wimborne kicked the resulting penalty to the corner.

A misjudge of power and an overthrow from the visitor’s hooker gave Waters an easy interception.  From his try line, Waters countered and offloaded to Lewis who broke the line and was in for an easy try before his body gave in – suspected adductor tear. Thankfully, team top try-scorer, Herbert was at hand to take an offload from the hobbling Lewis to run in under the posts.

With the man advantage, Wimborne continued to ratchet the pressure, till they eventually ended the half with a try of their own. Half time score 24 – 7. A decent Daggers’ lead with the bonus point already wrapped up.

Buoyed by their last score, Wimborne came back into the game at the start of the second half, delaying the Daggers’ an additional fifteen minutes before they scored their next try and the flood gates opened. After numerous scrums in the visitors 22, Wimborne kicked the ball clear 20 meters into the arms of Petchey who quickly attacked the line. A few phases later and Waters was at hand to score and claim his second of the day.

Heads back down, Wimborne’s resistance began to quickly diminish. The visiting team started missing more tackles; especially on Neill, who once again slalomed his way past three defenders to score his second of the day. Another amazing try, this one topped off with an interesting celebration, as the winger booted the ball into the air, seemingly lost in the moment.

Petchey and Herbert’s seconds were both similar. The Daggers saw blood and began to strike harder. The performance went up to another level as simple breaks, supporting and passing led to their second tries.

The final home team try was the pick of the bunch and sweetened the performance for the onlooking supporters. Half the team looked like they might score as continual offloading kept Wimborne chasing shadows. In an unlikely turn of events, the red scrum cap of Murley raced under the posts to score only his second for the club.

Wimborne touched down at the death of the game to leave the score 57 – 14. Since the turn of the year, Bridport has claimed 25 points out of a possible 25 points. With only four games to go in the season, eyes quickly set on Oakmedians in just over a week as the boys dream of the possibility of a fourth-place finish in the table.