Looking forward………

BACK rower Nick Spellissy is set to play his first game of the season for Bridgwater and Albion.

Spellissy has not played this season because he has been “following the English cricket team around in India.”

Head coach Simon (not Steve) Morrell said yesterday: “Nick will probably start at Teignmouth on Saturday providing he shows up well at training this week.”

Morrell described his side’s 35-17 home defeat by Okehampton in South West One (W) as “awful.”

He said: “There were very few positives to take from the game although we must not over-react.

“Compared to this stage of the season last year we are making progress. But our defence was poor against Okehampton. At the moment we’re lacking ball carriers.

“We were only a few points down at half time and we were still in the game. But we were poor in the second half. You have to work your ass off in this division if you are going to win games.

“We didn’t do this – at least most of the players didn’t. There were only a few who came out of the game with any credit.

“Okehampton were very enthusiastic in the ‘collision’ and we weren’t. We were second best in every aspect of the game.

“I want a response in training this week. We have to respond to this latest defeat in a very positive way. We need to go forward and to work hard. That’s the only way you will get results.”

Saturday’s defeat saw Bridgwater drop to tenth in the table while Okehampton leapfrog them to seventh.

This coming Saturday’s game at Teignmouth should be close because the Devon side are only one point behind Albion and have a game in hand. They did not play over the weekend.

Meanwhile Bridgwater and Albion’s 2nd XV, whose game in Somerset Premier at Wiveliscombe on Saturday was postponed because of a frozen pitch, are home to Old Redcliffians 2nd XV this coming Saturday.

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