BARFC 73, Midsomer Norton 24 (08/04/17)

AN Other | 09/04/2017

Report by Richard Walsh

Bridgwater and Albion brought the curtain down on their home campaign in style with a resounding victory over Midsomer Norton, who although doomed to relegation never gave up the fight throughout the game.

The season’s finale at College Way made an entertaining spectacle for the large crowd which included almost 200 who attended the Friends of Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Club Lunch ahead of the match.

Albion certainly got off to a flying start and within three minutes of the kick off skipper Ollie Dunn crashed over left of the posts for a try that Stuart Heal converted.

Sam Britton was next to next to get his name on scoresheet when a quickly taken free kick found its way to him on the right wing and he raced down the line to score an unconverted try in the corner. Almost from the re-start Kyran Devitt took advantage of the space on the right and went over for a try that Heal converted.

Albion continued to rampage their way towards the Midsomer Norton and just after the quarter of a hour mark a good run by Devitt set up Britton who scored on the right hand side for a try which Heal added the extras to which made the score 26-0.

At this stage of the game it continued to be one way traffic with the Albion backs enjoying the freedom they were allowed and on 20 minutes Nick Spellissy scored a try just left of the posts which Heal once again converted.

Albion weren’t done yet and in the space of three minutes Devitt, who had a great game, scored swiftly followed by Oscar Tregenna. Both converted by Heal to make the score 47-0.

Despite the score Midsomer Norton were far from done for and on 35 minutes their captain Matt Dennings scored an unconverted try on the left.

From the re-start however play went straight to the opposite end where Jordan Buller went over on the left for an unconverted try to bring up the half century for the Albion.

On the stroke of half time Britton collected the ball deep in his own and produced a brilliant solo effort, avoiding several tackles before scoring a try which Heal converted to make it 59-5 and the half way stage.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half were evenly contested and it was Midsomer Norton who opened the scoring when Matt Edgell went over for an unconverted try.

Albion responded with two tries in as many minutes the first after Jordan Buller charged down a visitor kick, inside the dead ball area, Tregenna dived on the ball but missed but Buller who also dived managed to ground the ball. The second came after a dazzling run from inside his own 22 line by Devitt before touching down behind the posts, both of which were converted by Heal, to make the score 73-10.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining Bridgwater were reduced to 14 men when Lewis Phillips was yellow carded and during his absence Denning scored a try for the visitors which Lee Taylor converted.

Rob Allen made a welcome return for the Albion when he came on as a replacement for the last few minutes, but it was Midsomer Norton who scored the final try when Scott Anderson went over for his first score in the senior side that Taylor converted to make it 73- 24 at the end.

Albion scorers

Tries: Ollie Dunn, Sam Britton (3), Devitt (3), Tregenna, Spellissy, Jordan Buller (2)

Conversions: Stuart Heal (9).

Albion: Matt Ranson, Jordan Buller, Lewis Phillips, Dan Kemmish, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Nick Spellissy, George Sluman, Ollie Dunn (capt), Tom Fournier, Stuart Heal, Oscar Tregenna, Luke Plummer, James Collings, Sam Britton and Kyran Devitt.

Replacements: all used- Rob Allen, Dave Norman and Joe Stradling.

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