8:56am Tuesday 9th March 2010
By Derek Bish
SWANAGE & WAREHAM II 16 BRIDPORT 13 BRIDPORT missed their chance to clinch the Dorset & Wilts One South title after a heart-breaking late defeat at Swanage & Wareham II – their first loss since October.
The runaway leaders looked on course to clinch the championship when they led 13-8 against the Swans, who are one of only two sides who can possibly catch the Blues.
However, Swanage hit back to delay Bridport’s crowning, which will now take place on March 20 if they beat Frome II.
Head coach Paul Ninnim said: “Swanage are a very good side and have been on an unbeaten run of their own.
“They have some old heads in their team and they were just that little bit better than us.
“That is just the way it goes sometimes. They turned Dorchester over twice last season so are no pushovers.
“We’d love to have clinched the league title but we’ve got to pull ourselves together and go for it in two weeks.”
Wes Lewis slotted home a penalty just three minutes in to give Bridport the perfect start, but the Swans hit back with an unconverted try to take the lead.
However, the visitors clicked into gear from a line-out, spread the play across the backs and centre Idris Croft found just enough space to break through and touch down. Lewis added the extras to send Bridport in at half-time 10-5 ahead.
Swanage reduced the arrears just after the restart with their first kicked points of the day, only for Lewis to reply with a penalty of his own to stretch his side’s lead to five points once more.
The Swans got it back to 13-11 and with 10 minutes left, from a line-out, they drove over for the decisive unconverted try, helped by Bridport being down to 14 men at the time.
“That was probably the difference,” added Ninnim. “We just couldn’t cope with their driving maul.
“We’ve had some easy games since Christmas and no-one has tested us much, but that doesn’t do you many favours.
“When you are winning easily every week you can become a bit lethargical. It’s better to be tested now and then, which we were on Saturday.”
Looking ahead to his side’s home match with Frome II on March 20, Ninnim commented: “It would be nice to seal the league title at home. We have three more chances to do it and would like to do it sooner rather than later.”
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