SALISBURY II 48 BRIDPORT 24

BRIDPORT had the ignominy of being the first team to lose to Salisbury Seconds this season, and the visitors also lost captain Dave Cutting for the rest of the campaign with a broken jaw.

The Blues had held Dorset & Wilts One South leaders Blandford to seven points a week before and were confident of victory against the side they had beaten in October.

However, Salisbury, who went into the game with a points difference of -466, had obviously not read the script and they recorded a comfortable win.

The Blues should have had this game in the bag but the unexpected vigour of the home side, combined with some truly disjoint-ed play from the Bridport squad, resulted in a 24-point margin of victory.

In a see-saw game, Bridport made some bad decisions, running possession from their own 22 into a strong wind and not clearing their lines effectively.

Bridport’s tries came from Donald Farmer, Ollie Everitt, Will Hagerty and Andrew Livingstone, and the chink of light was the debut at prop of Mark Follet.

He had a cracking game against experienced opposition and has now provided Bridport with more depth in an important position in the front row.

It was also good to see Dave Smith among those supporting from the touchline.

He broke his leg at Wareham at the end of November and will have the metalwork in his limb finally removed next month.

Elsewhere, the second team’s game at Ellingham & Ringwood did not take place, so next up for them is a home encounter with Lytchett Minster Seconds.

The firsts host title contenders Oakmeadians with both fixtures at the Brewery Ground kicking off at 3pm.