Weather tests the Blues

Poole 5 Bridport 15

BRIDPORT experienced some of the worst conditions so far this season at Poole's Turlin Moor ground.

A ferocious cross wind blew in from the adjacent Poole harbour and huge puddles covered the length of one side of the pitch.

Amazingly, the ground was reasonably firm and the pitch surface could have made for a fast game but the wind denied any skill advantage.

Both sides spent time trying to adjust, with passes going astray in the gale and kicks coming back on themselves.

Brett Frampton opened the scoring for the Blues with an incisive angled run to the Poole try line, but a conversion kick was out of the question.

Continued Bridport forward pressure close to the Poole line lead to a disallowed try by veteran prop Kevin Bullock.

Justice prevailed as the ensuing five metre scrum provided a platform for scrum-half Chris Scaddings to snaffle a try under the posts. Frampton beat the wind to convert and give the visitors a 12-0 lead at half time.

It was Frampton again who added a penalty in the second half to complete Bridport's scoring. Poole scrum-half Greg Reid had the final word with a skilful try into the left corner.

Bottom of the table Poole were pleased with this result as they continued their improvement, while the Blues share top spot with Martock, who also won at Puddletown.

The two sides meet at Bridport's Brewery Ground on Saturday in a potential title decider.