Western Counties (North): Bridgwater & Albion RFC 23-25 Cleve

This was a game that Bridgwater and Albion should have won but after enjoying a comfortable lead at half time they allowed Cleve to come back late on and claim the spoils.

The visitors started the game strongly and after three minutes took the lead when Will Warman kicked a penalty. Bridgwater countered well and five minutes later levelled the score through a Harrison Greenslade penalty.

Warman regained the lead for Cleve when he slotted home a second kick  in front of the posts to make the score 3-6.

The game remained evenly balanced before on 25 minutes a strong break down the right flank by Josh Frost resulted in a try for Tom West which Greenslade added the extras to putting the hosts into the lead.

Bridgwater extended their advantage when the ball was fed across the backs until it found Kyran Devitt in space on the left wing who raced in from 25 metres to touch down for a try which Greenslade converted.

The home side continued to be on top and created several opportunities, but they had to wait until just before half time when Greenslade kicked another penalty to make the score 20-6 at the break.

Following the interval Bridgwater started well and after two minutes put themselves further ahead when Greenslade kicked another penalty. 

For the next 25 minutes it was Bridgwater who were very much in the ascendancy. On a number of occasions they threatened the Cleve line and on the one occasion that Jordan Buller crashed over the referee declared that he was held up and no try was given.

As the game wore on Cleve eventually managed to break out of their own half and made a rare incursion into Bridgwater territory. The move culminated in considerable pressure in the right hand corner and concluded with Roger Drabble being yellow carded and a penalty try being awarded.

Almost from the re-start Cleve made their advantage count when Warman scythed through for a try which he then converted making the score 23-20.

With the clock ticking down the visitors scored another try this time by Josh Davies to put them into the lead for the first time in the second half.

In the dying minutes Bridgwater retained possession and tried to win a penalty but to no avail as the referee blew his whistle, to bring a game that the hosts should have won, but lost, to a disappointing conclusion.

B&ARFC- Harry Pentelow, Finlay White, Ben Howden, Tom West, Tom Hopkins, Jordan Buller, George Sluman, Taylor Buller (capt), Roger Drabble, Harrison Greenslade, Dan Lang, Jay Owens, Alex Knight, Josh Frost and Kyran Devitt.

Replacements- Gavin Knight, Josh Parker and Cam Hellier.