A minute’s silence was observed before the kick of the Weymouth & Portland v Bridport rugby game at Monmouth Avenue as a mark of respect for the Seahorses’ former player and committee man Derek Smith, who passed away recently.
The Tribute Rugby Leagues kicked off on Saturday with Dorchester at home against Melksham and Weymouth & Portland entertaining Bridport at Monmouth Avenue.
The County Town were narrowly beaten by their Wiltshire guests by 28 points 26 at Coburg Road in the Southern Counties Division, with Swanage & Wareham beating Combe Down in the same league by 29 points to 5 at Bestwall Park.
However, the Seahorses overran Bridport in the final quarter of the game after the West Dorset club put up a valiant display for an hour when the result was still in doubt.
The experience that Weymouth & Portland gained last season in the Southern Counties League came good in the final 20 minutes when Bridport began to tire, and the Seahorses took over control, almost running in tries at will, making the final score 38 points to 3 in the Seahorses’ favour.
Puddletown hosted Oakmeadians at Greenfields and won that one, scoring 35 points, with the Oak’s replying with 19.
In the local football, winless Weymouth broke their duck, making it 8th time lucky, beating Dorking Wanderers by 2 goals to 1 at the Meadowbank Stadium.
The Terras’s goals came from Calvin Brooks, who broke Weymouth’s 598-minute goal drought, and new boy Jake Scrimshaw.
This result lifts Weymouth off of the bottom of the National South League into 22:nd place.
Calvin Brooks scored the Terras’ opener.
In the Southern Premier Division, Dorchester put 4 past Frome at the Avenue Stadium and also managed to keep a clean sheet.
The Magpies, goals scored by Olaf Koszela, Shaq Gwengwe, Matt Buse and Wayne Robinson.
Portland United’s new management pairing of Josh Hickman and Shaun Bessant started their tenure with a 2 goals to 1 win at the Victory Stadium against U.S. Portsmouth. The Blue’s scores came courtesy of Josh Camp and Freddie Beale.
In the Southwest Peninsular League, East Bridport fought out a 1 all draw at St Mary’s against visitors Honiton, which is not a bad result as the Bees had to play for a long period down to 10 players as one of their men was red carded early doors.
On Sunday, it was a double delight for Weymouth Football Club this weekend whose women’s team beat visitors to the Bob Lucas Stadium,Honiton, by 4 goals to nil. The Terras Ladies scores coming from Aleeshea Rowland with a pair and 1 each from Clare Darby, Holly Perryment and Emily Robinson.
Bridport Ladies took to St Mary’s Field against Ashton Ladies also on Sunday and scored a 6 goals to 1 victory. Aleeshea Rowland netted a pair with a goal each from Clare Darby, Holly Perryment, Emily Robinson and one more from A N Other.
For images from the Weymouth & Portland v Bridport rugby game, and other information, follow this link: idrismartin.wordpress.com