RUGBY

FOLLOWING six weeks of promising training, Bridport were eager to impress their home supporters after a disappointing season last year.

Skipper Tony Dommet, sticking to his "train to play" regime, made some brave and daring decisions with his new look team: "Calf" Bullock playing at fly-half, David Keaton in at lock and a young and promising Jack Edwards on the flank being just a few decisions being taken.

Like many opening league games, the game was played at a frantic rate, with the fine weather allowing expansive rugby to be adopted.

Bridport were the first to show as the more dominant team, with line out ball being secured and good phased rugby being played in the Martock half.

This very nearly resulted in a Bridport's first try as Samways, on the wing, pounced on a loose ball created by pressure on the Martock 5m line. However, the referee judged that a previous infringement ruled out the try.

This let-off proved a warning to Martock who responded with a good passage of the play. However, through their fly half, who continued to opt for the boot rather than running rugby, Bridport never looked troubled, answering shortly near half time with an unconverted try from Calf Bullock, who followed up a charge down by Timmy Edwards.

At half time Dommet made some forward replacements, bringing in the mature back row forwards of Assirati and Bareham. He also had to make some changes to his back line, as Scaddings was forced to the wing through injury and Bullock moving into scrumhalf.

An early penalty being converted by the pressuring Martock team brought the scores to a tight 5-3, making the game extremely competitive, as both teams started to feel the pressure.

This resulted in more infringements, a greater amount of handling errors and poor ball retention, something Bridport will need to improve on before their next league fixture.

Although a Bridport opportunity of a penalty was missed, further pressure, again through a charge down, resulted in another well-taken try by Calf Bullock, who looked sharp throughout the game and deserved the man of match award.

This unconverted try left the game at 10-3, sufficient breathing space for Bridport to gain their first league win of the season.

* Match sponsored by No 10, East Street, Bridport.

AFTER this good start to the season, Bridport skipper Tony Dommett is quietly confident about tomorrow's (Saturday) game, when the Blues travel to Puddletown in the first round of the RFU Junior Cup.

He said: "We have a lot to improve on from last week, though, and this cup tie should help us do that, which in turn will improve our league performance as well."

Bridport 1st XV: Durden, Herbert, B Chant, Keating, Vercoe, T Edwards, J Edwards, Farquharson, Scaddings, D Bullock, Backhouse, Dommett, Samways, Taylor, Muir. Subs: K Bullock, Connolly, Bareham.