Penfold and Roberts help to deliver nice bonus for Gosport

Rory Penfold and Ben Roberts both grabbed a brace of tries as the home side secured only their second league win of the season.

Senior coach Barry Bridgman felt it was a good way to celebrate his decision to stay on next season.

‘It was a good day at the office,’ said Bridgman.

‘For the first time in 23 games we picked up a try-scoring bonus point.

‘We could have won by even more because we still left about 20 other points out on the pitch.

‘Twice in both halves we butchered excellent opportunities.

‘On a dry pitch we tried to run the ball as much as we could and it paid off.

‘It is no good getting into a forward dominated wrestling match because we are not big enough to do that.

‘We tweaked things a little and scored some good tries.’

Full-back Penfold put Gosport ahead on 21 minutes finishing off a good move on the left wing.

Four minutes later Wayne Dugan extended the lead as he typically powered his way over the line with two defenders hanging off him.

Dover pulled a try back before half-time but the home side took charge after the break.

The Gosport boss had to have a few words with the players at the interval to ensure his side came out fully firing for the second half.

They were always going to need to dig in against the wind in the second half.

Some of the play in the first period was not quite to Bridgman’s liking.

He saw the team giving away a few too many penalties.

‘I had to give them a dressing down at half-time because I felt we hadn’t done well enough playing with the wind,’ he added.

‘We had dropped too many balls, had too many turned over and given away too many penalties for offside.’

Bridgman’s hair dryer treatment had the desired effect.

Number eight Roberts went over for two tries and Penfold also notched his second try of the game.

Fareham Heathens suffered a 29-15 defeat at third-placed Fordingbridge in Hampshire one.

Locks Heath Pumas warmed up for their big local derby against Nomads this coming Saturday with a 60-0 home win against Aldershot & Fleet.

The home side proved too powerful for their basement club visitors who remain without a win this season.