Dorset & Wilts Plate

BRIDPORT 25 PUDDLETOWN 23

AFTER last week’s mauling at the hands of Yeovil, Bridport needed to respond positively, and this they did with a spirited display which took the game away from Puddletown in the dying minutes.

A penalty apiece marked the early exchanges, with Mike Walton the successful kicker for the home side.

The visitors, with the good support play that characterised their performance, conjured up a try which was converted to take the score to 10-3. Bridport were then penalised at the breakdown to gift Puddletown another three points.

However, Puddletown were as guilty as the hosts in the penalty department and were eventually made to pay just before half-time.

Dave Cutting tapped and stormed off downfield before, smartly off-loading to Rich Pearse, who ran in the try. Mike Walton converted and Bridport were back in the game at 13-10.

Daragh McCoughlin, influential as ever in Bridport’s scrimmaging, was then forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury.

The second half began with yet another penalty, this time to the hosts. Kicker Mike Walton’s job was made easier by 10 metres as Puddletown argued the toss, as the scores were then level at 13-13 Despite losing a player to a yellow card, Puddletown earned the next penalty with a period of pressure, a straight-forward kick regaining them the lead.

The Blues’ backs had not enjoyed much influence thus far, but a neat kick through to the fivemetre line from fly-half Richard Middleton gave the home side a platform from which to attack.

Puddletown were driven back from their own line-out and lost the ball to Joe Mace-Mckenney, who touched down. Mike Walton added the conversion and Bridport took the lead for the first time in the contest at 20-16.

But, as the game continued to ebb and flow, the home side’s lead was short-lived as the visitors responded with a converted try to go ahead by three.

Bridport fought hard to regain the lead as the clock ticked down.

Stuck on their five-metre line, Puddletown fought valiantly to stay ahead, holding up Bret Chant as he crossed the line. However, from the resulting scrum, Cutting darted through the defence to resolve the issue and move Bridport into the box seat.

The conversion was missed, but 25-23 was enough for a moraleboosting victory for the Blues, who now meet Weymouth & Portland in the semi-final.