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BARFC 12, Weston-S-Mare RFC 18 (30/01/16)

| 30/01/2016

Bridgwater coach, Kevin Innalls, summed up his feelings after he watched his side lose their 100% home record in one word – robbed. Two vital refereeing decisions in the final quarter went against the home side resulting in a possible swing of 14 points. First, Bridgwater winger, Kyran Devitt, was hit in the face by a fly-hacked ball, and went on to ‘score’ but was mortified to find the referee had adjudged him to have knocked on. Minutes later, replacement full back, Scott Franklin, was harshly adjudged to have knocked on in his own 22 and, from the resulting scrum, visiting scrum half Haydn Tuttiett scored a fine individual try, converted from the touchline by Dan Lomax.

Bridgwater made only one change from last week, Dan Kemmish returning to the second row at the expense of Rob Thompson. Joe Stradling and Scott Franklin joined Lewis Phillips on the bench.

The first half of this local derby, played in front of a large crowd including local MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger, was eminently forgettable. Littered with errors and aimless kicking by both sides and a yellow card for Bridgwater’s Luca Ercolani, the only score was a 35m penalty for Lomax. Bridgwater had the chance to equalise just before the break but Chris Ashwin was just wide from 37m. Weston dominated much of the half but Bridgwater came into the game well and ended the half totally on top.

The second half was a different game. Bridgwater caught the kick off and a great break by Ercolani, carried on by James Bryant, took play deep into the Weston half. The ball reached Devitt on the wing who outpaced the defence for his fourth try in three matches. Ashwin’s conversion hit the post.

Weston, who had lost hooker, Mike Hocking, to a yellow card just before half time, hit back immediately with Kirk Middlemass gathering a clever chip ahead to score an unconverted – and shorthanded – try in the corner.

Bridgwater then lost two very influential backs – full back and goalkicker, Ashwin, again dislocated his shoulder to be replaced by Scott Franklin, normally a scrum half, and only moments later, fly half Jervis Manupenu saw yellow following a high tackle. Lomax extended Weston’s lead to 5-11 with the resulting simple penalty.

Despite being shorthanded, Bridgwater took the lead when Rob Gurnett, part of an innocuous-looking move in mid field, suddenly spotted a gap and sprinted the 45m to the posts. Devitt converted to give Bridgwater a 12-11 lead. They held the lead until Tuttiett’s try.

In the final minutes, Bridgwater attacked almost incessantly but could not break a resolute Weston defence who lost Middlemass to a yellow card. The home side did get over the line but were unable to ground the ball.

Weston thus completed the double over Bridgwater who drop to fourth place, just behind Newent, who they play in Gloucestershire, in two weeks time.

Defences were on top in much of this game but defenders were often helped by unforced errors with some loose passes and lost possession. Bridgwater’s forwards were under pressure in scrums as the visiting front row, including former Bridgwater assistant coach, Darren Crompton, looked stronger. However, it seemed that whenever Bridgwater exerted any pressure in the scrums, the visiting front row stood up to negate the push. The lineout was also a lottery. Bridgwater seemed to lose more throws today than they had for the rest of the season but as Weston also lost a few, perhaps the crosswind wind made life difficult for all concerned. Skipper, Ollie Dunn, led from the front, being in the fore, together with his flanker partner, Ercolani, both in attach and defence.

The backs ran hard with the wingers again showing admirable pace.

The game was summed up by an old player, who had represented both clubs in the past, as a tough and typical local derby and one in which both teams had shown that they may struggle if promoted.

Scorers :
Bridgwater & Albion
Tries : Devitt, Gurnett
Con: Devitt

Weston SM
Tries: Middlemass, Tuttiett
Con: Lomax
Pens: Lomax (2)

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Category: 1st XV News, Previews / Reports -XV

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