BRIDPORT 28 SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 10

The first meeting between the sides earlier this season saw a victory for Bridport, and the Blues repeated that feat in front of an expectant home crowd.

Bridport started brightly when Rory Greening kicked a penalty in the first three minutes and Will Haggerty snatched an interception to score under the posts.

Greening then duly stroked the ball over to give the hosts an early 13-0 lead.

The Swans managed a penalty of their own in a frenetic start before the game settled down.

After the home side were sent back 10 metres for disagreeing with a penalty decision against them, Swanage took the scrum close to the Bridport line and the move paid off with a try to make if 13-10.

Despite the visitors’ advantage in bulk, they did not match the superior technique of the Bridport pack.

Home props Oz Sullivan and Justin Gurd ensured that all the Blues’ power was driven efficiently into the retreating visitors’ scrum.

Home number eight Mike Pibworth was then able to spin off from an advancing scrum to touch down for an unconverted try.

The crucial closing sequences of the match then went the home team’s way.

A kick came out to veteran winger Jason Blackmore who used his experience to side-step his opposite number before throwing an overhead pass for full-back Nathan Herbert to cross and give Bridport a comfortable victory.

Before the game, 68 vice-presidents sat down in the clubhouse for their annual lunch, catered for by Bridport Hog Roast, one of the club’s sponsors.