SWANAGE & WAREHAM SECONDS 8 BRIDPORT 11

A LAST-GASP try by Bridport’s Canadian ace Dave Smith proved the difference between the sides at the end of an error-strewn Dorset & Wilts One South contest.

Blues back row Ayo Fraser was a constant threat to the Swans in the loose and full-back Tom Fullegar made some thrusting runs on the occasions the ball actually got to him.

There was only one unsuccessful attempt at the posts during the whole of the first half and neither team’s try line really looked like being breached.

But the home side’s strategy of trying to bulldoze their way over led to them getting the game’s first points early in the second period.

They frustrated Bridport into giving away a penalty in front of their own posts and an easy kick gave them the lead.

The visitors drew level with a long-range penalty from Rory Greening but the Swanage juggernaut persisted with grinding forward play down the left wing, resulting in a try under a pile of bodies.

With the conversion missed the Swans led 8-3 and things did not look good for the Blues.

Up front, the war of the props was getting very heated and young Blues tight-head Justin Gurd was getting the better of his more experienced opposite number.

Gurd kept popping him up in the air at scrum time and although the Swans swapped props the result was just the same.

Swanage’s frustration saw them give away valuable territory with repeated penalties in the scrum.

Greening managed to slot a three-pointer to reduce the home side’s advantage to 8-6.

Bridport then played their ace. With shades of the All Blacks in Dublin, they won the ball from a scrum, passed it down the line and ice hockey star Smith skated around two Swanage tacklers to score in the corner.

No conversion meant a losing bonus point for the hosts but a hard-earned 11-8 victory for the Blues.

However, they know they must do better this Saturday at North Dorset (2.15pm).

Bridport RFC is holding a CPD coaching course on December 11 from 6.30pm-8pm.

It will be led by RFU coach educator Nevil Jeffrey and details are available from Allan Staerck on 01308 420801.