BRIDPORT 5 NORTH DORSET II 53

A BAD day at the office for the Blues saw them crash to a heavy Dorset & Wilts One South defeat against North Dorset Seconds on Saturday.

The visitors opened the scoring early on with a blistering run from their left winger, who brushed off four ineffectual tackles to score in the corner. The successful conversion kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Bridport were able to respond with a classy try by the ever-reliable Mike Pibworth from the base of a solid scrum – but that was pretty much it for the hosts.

They were contained in their half by muscular North Dorset forward power, who repeatedly won ball for their keen back line to work with.

Four more tries followed for the visitors before half-time, taking their lead to 27-5 and leaving Bridport with a virtually impossible task in the second period.

After the turnaround, the visitors continued where they had left off in the first half, as Bridport became observers rather than participants.

Too often their meagre and hard-earned possession was lost in contact and through aimless kicking, while their efficient scrummaging technique was their only saving grace.

North Dorset scored four more tries in a second half which was disrupted by several stoppages for injuries.

Despite the Blues being outgunned by a better and more intense side, they battled to a final whistle which couldn’t come quickly enough.

The Blues’ final match of the season will be at home against Frome Seconds on April 12 when hopefully the injury list will have shortened.

Meanwhile, in Dorset & Wilts Four, Bridport Seconds lost 29-5 at Blandford Seconds in the final game of rugby for veteran skipper Wayne Munro.

The 53-year-old is finally hanging up his playing boots, though from next season he will be taking up the whistle as a referee.