Rugby

BRIDPORT lost ground on North Dorset at the top of the Dorset & Wilts Division Two South with a surprise defeat against a well drilled Martock side.

The Blues started badly in the crisp sunny conditions with their defence all over the place, which the home side made the most of with fast forward play bringing an early try for Paul O'Brien.

Chris Snell was on form with the boot to send over four penalties and give Martock an impressive 17-0 lead at half time. Gradually, Bridport came to life and pulled themselves back into the match with a try at the start of the second half. Chris Backhouse made a break, supported by Chris Scaddings, who popped the ball out to Jack Edwards to score.

Backhouse's conversion should have given them a platform to build on as they continued on the attack, pushing the home side back in their own twenty two with some good passages of play, but they failed to capitalise.

Martock made sure of the points after more poor defending from the Blues, Andy Gratton going over for the try, which Snell converted.

Bridport skipper Tony Dommett was disappointed with his team's lack of discipline, he said: "We gave away far to many penalties which gifted them the points, especially in the first half.

"Martock played very well but we have to go back to basics now in training and make sure we do the correct things next week.

"We have to hope that North Dorset slip up at some stage if we are going to win the league, but we also have a cushion on Martock below us and we need to win our remaining four games to stay in second place for the play off."