Match reports

August 5 Jan van Riebeek High School, Cape Town 26 Bridport 12

A BARBARIAN side made up of mainly Jan van Riebeek players and three other schools just came out on top.

After the initial sparring, Jan van Riebeek were 19-0 ahead at half time and playing the better rugby.

The second half was improved for Bridport and having made three changes Sean Smith scored a breakaway try under the posts which Tim Cuzens converted.

Two minutes later Jan van Riebeek made it 26-7. Sean Smith scored a second breakaway try and Bridport also had three tries disallowed and played good rugby only to be beaten by a better side.

Unfortunately, Jamie Powell was knocked unconscious early in the second half and was unable to continue in this or any of the subsequent matches.

August 7 Gordon High School, Somerset West 55 Bridport 3

Bridport were treated to Gordon High School's version of the Haka before the kick off.

Their strong team of mainly under 19s scored a breakaway try which they converted, but Sean Smith converted a penalty to pull back to 7-3.

At 12-3, Bridport put Gordon HS under pressure on their try line when - with a four man move - the hosts took the ball the length of the field to score.

After half time, a succession of injuries decimated Bridport, although they continued to win the forwards battle.

Gordon HS continued to get the ball to their extremely fast backs and eventually ran out 55-3 winners.

August 11 Wittedrift High School Under 17s 24 Bridport 5

The match started evenly, with the ball being kept in the forwards, but Wittedrift broke down the right after a turnover in a maul on seven minutes.

Bridport exerted a period of intense pressure and gained a penalty close to Wittedrift's line. Tom Wren took a tap, passed to Rhys Absolom who crashed through, finding David Clegg who went over to score.

Wittedrift attacked from the restart and scored a second converted try down the left hand side, 14-5.

Bridport's forwards were dominating but the hosts broke through on the left to score a third try.

From the restart Wittedrift scored after Bridport were slow to retreat, being penalised a further 10 metres.

Bridport could hold their heads high having played tremendous rugby.

August 13 Pearson High School, Port Elizabeth 31 Bridport 10

Bridport were in full cry and camped on the Pearson try line, when they lost the ball and Pearson ran the full length of the field to score under the posts.

Injuries took their toll again and the play swept up and down the field until, after 26 minutes, Pearson backs moved swiftly down the left to score a second try for 14-0.

Immediately Bridport responded with sustained pressure and on the point of half time Kyle Clark forced his way over for an unconverted try to make it 14-5.

After the restart Bridport immediately went on the offensive and after 12 minutes Mathew Wedge scored a second to further reduce the deficit.

Pearson High replaced some of their under 17 players with under 19s and after a further five minutes they scored a third, unconverted try to make the score 19 - 10.

The home side began to take control scoring a further two tries in the last five minutes, but Bridport had saved their best rugby of the tour until last in the most thrilling match of the tour.

Bridport under 16s squad: Pete Philips, Martyn Christopher, Rhys Absolom, David Clegg, Kyle Clark, Josh Morgan, Jon Butler, Dan Hoskins, Tom Wren, Jamie Powell, Phil White, Tim Cuzens, Tom James, Mikey Pibworth, Mathew Wedge, Sean Smith, James Tuck, Paul Billingham, Joe Carter, Ed Oakley, Rob Everidge, Tom Gamwell, Alex Durrant.