NPRFC 27, BARFC 23 (14/01/17)

AN Other | 14/01/2017

Match Report by Richard Walsh

This game had everything you could possibly wish for from a local derby, except for the large contingent of Albion supporters the result.

Played in front of a crowd of over 800, it was full of thrills and spills with the lead changing hands on several occasions but eventually it was the hosts who ran out the winners.

North Petherton took full advantage of the gusting cross wind and within two minutes of the kick off took the lead when Sam Williams went over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try.

The home side continued to dominate the opening exchanges and looked especially dangerous whenever they were given the space to run the ball.

However gradually Bridgwater played themselves into the game and after 17 minutes Stuart Heal put them onto the scoreboard when he slotted home a penalty.

Another Heal penalty, this time a long-range effort from halfway landed between the posts to give them the lead.

Petherton replied strongly and went in search of their second try, only to be held up on the line by stout defensive work. The hosts kept up their pressure and regained the lead when Brogan Melrose kicked a penalty from in front of the posts.

Bridgwater then enjoyed a spell in the ascendancy which was rewarded on 35 minutes when Tom Fournier scored a try that Heal converted which regained them the lead.

Late into the half Petherton were reduced to 14 men when they had Jack Coles yellow carded, but this seemed to make them even more determined.

In the dying minutes before the interval Petherton were awarded a penalty, which they decided to run. The ball eventually reached former Bridgwater player Damian Griffin who scored between the posts. Melrose duly kicked the conversion that gave the hosts a 15-13 lead at the break.

Bridgwater started the second half strongly and within a few minutes of the re-start they were back in the lead. Heal caught a long clearance on the left hand side of his own half and after making good ground started a move across the back that resulted in Luke Plummer scoring between the posts, which Heal added the extras to.

The visitors were looking good at this stage of the game and went further ahead when Heal kicked another penalty to give Bridgwater a 23-15 lead after quarter of an hour of the second half.

North Petherton were far from done with and after 20 minutes, a period of pressure eventually saw Steve Pape score a try which Melrose converted to bring them within one point of the visitors.

Petherton took the lead on half an hour when James Carter went over for an unconverted try in the right hand corner which made the score 27-23.

Both teams continued to battle hard and late into the game Bridgwater had Blundell yellow carded but it was the home team finished strongest and ran out 27-23 winners.

Scorers

North Petherton:
Tries – Sam Williams, Damian Griffin, Steve Pape, James Carter
Conversion- Brogan Melrose 2
Penalty- Brogan Melrose 1

Bridgwater:
Tries- Tom Fournier, Luke Plummer
Conversions- Heal 2
Penalties- Stuart Heal- 3.

Bridgwater and Albion – John Hill, Garryn Basson, James Collings, Luke Plummer, Roger Drabble, Stuart Heal, Tom Fournier, Lewis Phillips, Shaun Mahoney, Adrian Tew, Taylor Buller, Dan Kemmish, James McClaughlan, Ollie Dunn (cpt) and Micky Norman.

Replacements all used- George Sluman, Ali Blundell and Matt Ranson.

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