IVEL BARBARIANS 52 Bridport 7

A FLU bug put paid to Bridport’s hopes in this top-of-the-table clash at Ivel Barbarians in Dorset & Wilts One South.

Illness and injury severely depleted the Blues and although they put up a brave fight they went down by a 45-point margin.

Skipper Ricky Stubbs, whose side were unbeaten before their trip to Somerset, said: “It wasn’t great.

“The week started terribly with seven injuries from the starting XV and just when we managed to get a team set to work on things, we then lost several more to illness, including four on the day of the game.

“We would have been hit with minus five points if we had cancelled so a lot of the second team stepped up and by the time we got there we were already a bit downhearted.

“Ivel are a good side and even if we had gone there with our full first team it would have been tough so in the end it was just something we had to get on with.

“We did have a decent 10-minute spell in the second half when we got a try through Ryan de la Hunty, which was then converted by Bob Lester-Card, but apart from that we never really got going.

“They played us at our worst physical stage of the season while they were at their best but it won’t be the same next time round.

“Fair play to them though because they are a hard side.”

The result has seen Ivel go four points clear of the West Dorset outfit, who have now dropped to third with Salis-bury sandwiched in between.

The Blues’ next test is Saturday’s home clash with Wimborne Seconds (2.30pm).