Match report by Stuart Briggs

BRIDPORT remained five points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand after a comprehensive 43-0 victory over Ellingham & Ringwood, scoring seven tries in the process.

Both sets of forwards defended well from the start on the heavy pitch but the Blues did break the deadlock, however, when a quick ball from a forward drive in the 22 was whipped out to Rich Layzell who went in at the corner for an unconverted score.

Freddie Woolner made several strong runs and some telling kicks deep into E&R territory with Oscar Tompkins unlucky not to score after a good chase, being penalised for a double movement.

The Blues finished the half strongest, when after another Woolner kick through, E&R had a drop out collected by Dan Butler who drove back into their 22. A quick ball from the ruck went down the backs with Mitch Waters offloading to Layzell for his second try, converted by Waters.

The final score of the half came when a quick ruck ball for the backs was spun out to Tompkins who made a neat inside offload to Toby James. Half time 17-0.

The second half started well and the Blues gained a scrum penalty and another quick ball through the backs resulted in Sam Roberts-Wray being held up.

E&R offended again, and Hussey took a quick penalty to drive over by the posts for the converted bonus point try.

From a Blues scrum, superb hands by the backs created the opportunity for James Tuck to go in unopposed for a converted try.

The Blues backs kept up the tempo and Woolner was not to be denied, when after collecting an E&R clearance kick, he drove into their 22 and offloaded to Roberts-Wray to score in the corner, converted by Waters.

With almost the last play of the match, Woolner collected the ball at pace on half way but was denied a deserved score as the referee was unsighted.

From the resulting scrum, quick ball was fed out by Tuck and Waters with a superb cut out pass to Roberts-Wray created the final score.

The Blues’ next match is away to Wimborne on February 15.