BOURNEMOUTH III 55 BRIDPORT 7

WAYNE Munro is hoping Bridport can put a difficult couple of months behind them and enjoy a successful second half of the season.

Munro is set to take charge of the team on an interim basis until the end of the campaign while the Blues seek a new permanent head coach following the departure of Roger Clark last week.

The first match in the post-Clark era saw Bridport, whose second XV has also disbanded, lose heavily to Bournemouth Thirds last Saturday.

A long injury list continues to hinder Bridport’s chances of achieving a consistent run of form in Dorset & Wilts Two South, but Munro feels things are beginning to move in the right direction.

Colts players James Young, Jack Baldwin and Lee Burdett were all given the opportunity to show their ability last weekend and more youngsters are due to make the step up to senior rugby before too long.

Burdett scored the Blues’ only try at Bournemouth, converted by Craig Marshall, and both Young and Baldwin impressed the interim coach during the defeat.

Reflecting on the game and the coaching situation, Munro said: “Bournemouth are a very well-drilled and strong side with a couple of really quick players that scored all their tries.

“We’ve still got eight or nine injuries so we had players playing out of position and a few young guys stepping up from the Colts.

“Roger left the club last week and we had a very limited training session on Thursday to try and get people ready for the game.

“There have been a few issues which the club has addressed and now we are looking to move forward.

“I’m going to coach the side until the end of the season with assistance from three others, and hopefully we will have a new head coach in for next season.

“We are looking for one now but it’s hard to get someone when you’re nearly halfway through a season.”