Bridgman slams Gosport tactics after missed chance

The home side got their first points on the board, with a losing bonus point, but that was little consolation for Barry Bridgman.

‘We should have won the game easily,’ said the hugely disappointed head coach.

‘It is frustrating and annoying. Our tactics were all wrong.

‘The Brighton pack was big and strong and we played right into their hands.

‘We allowed ourselves to get involved in an arm wrestle and we weren’t going to win that. Instead of spinning the ball out wide where our three-quarters were capable of causing them damage we kept it tight.

‘Brighton had a narrow defence and we kept trying to barrel our way up the middle.

‘We have a good set of backs but didn’t use them.’

Brighton led at half-time after a 17th-minute try and the hosts suffered a setback when Tim Snowden got a yellow card before the break.

Snowden, however, returned and poached an opportunist try in the 71st minute to level the scores.

In the final nine minutes, though, it was Brighton who went on to win – adding a try and a penalty to their total.

Tom Lewis knocked over a penalty at the death to give the home side their consolation bonus point.

‘Brighton were so relieved to pick up their first win the chairman bought them bottles of Champagne afterwards,’ said Bridgman.

‘Chances are going to be few and far between for us, so we have to take them when they come along.

‘We needed to knock Brighton over and could have done. It was a dour forward battle and it didn’t have to be.

‘Unless we get a lot better we won’t overhaul the clubs above us.’

Fareham Heathens lost 31-8 to Petersfield in Hampshire one.

A heavily-depleted Locks Heath fell to a 36-6 defeat against Hampshire two leaders Overton.

Nick Destefano knocked over an early penalty before the powerful Overton pack took control.

The visitors grabbed two tries in 15 minutes with Destefano hitting back with another penalty.

Overton powered over for four more tries in the second half.

Pumas manager George Winch said: ‘The guys gave everything and it was a frustrating afternoon.

‘Despite a lot of changes we showed true grit but were unable to break Overton down.’