Western Counties (North): Bridgwater & Albion RFC win

Bridgwater and Albion enjoyed their first victory of the season when they beat fellow strugglers Chosen Hill Former Pupils at College Way on Saturday afternoon.

However the margin of their victory would have been considerably greater.

if they had turned their scoring opportunities into points.

Before the start of the match the players from both sides observed a minutes silence in memory of Father Michael Derrick who played for the club  for over 35 years and Geoff Barnden a former Third XV captain and player who both sadly passed away recently.

The hosts went onto the attack from the kick off, creating pressure in the left corner before a second attack saw them close to the line on the opposite side, but they were unable to turn their pressure into points. 

After 10 minutes the visitors  were awarded a penalty for offside which Harry Matthews slotted home to put Chosen Hill into the lead.

The Albion returned to Chosen Hill territory where they’d spent most of the opening passages of play and following a Kyran Devitt kick to touch and line out in the left hand corner Alex Knight went over  for an unconverted try.

The home side continued in the ascendancy, but despite creating opportunities were unable to extend their lead.

With the first half coming to a close Albion mounted a number of attacks, during the course of one Chosen Hill had a player yellow carded.

The hosts won a series of scrums close to the visitors’ line and after the third the ball found its way to Tom Hopkins who crashed over for a try that Devitt added the extras to, making the score 12-3 at the interval.

Chosen Hill kicked off but it was the hosts who were straight back into the attack and a scything break through the middle by Devitt was followed by a charge down the right wing by George Sluman again saw them close to the oppositions  line, but without a score.

Ten minutes into the second half Chosen Hill collected a loose ball just inside their own half and Tom Gamble raced to the line to score a converted try making the score 12-10.

Chosen Hill sensed their time was running out and mounted a strong attack that ended with Matthews scoring his second try which he then converted to put his side ahead.

With the clock ticking down the Albion responded strongly and soon after going behind Devitt kicked a penalty to the right touch and from the ensuing  line out skipper Taylor Buller went over to level the scores.

In the frantic dying minutes of the game Josh Frost made a strong break before off loading to Devitt who raced down the right wing before touching down behind the posts for a try he converted.

Chosen Hill made a final desperate attempt to salvage something from the game but the home defence held firm until the final whistle went much to the relief of everyone with Bridgwater winning 24-17.

As a result of this match the Albion move up to 10th place in the table and this coming Saturday they travel away to play Old Bristolians who last weekend beat Burnham on Sea 58-12.

BARFC- Henry Pentelow, Gavin Knight, Stef Pierce, Tom Hopkins, Taylor Buller (capt), Alex Knight,George Sluman,Rowan Traynor, Jon Hill, Jay Owens, Dan Lang, Charlie Willcox, Lewis Plece, Kyran Devitt and Josh Frost.

Replacements- Tom West, James Collings and Ben Howden.