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B&A RFC 2nd XV 45, Midsomer Norton 2nd XV 22 (13/10/12)

| 11/04/2013

On a lovely sunny day at college way, The United entertained table topping Midsomer Norton who were looking to maintain their unbeaten run. Bridgwater preparation didn’t initially go to plan, but a few frantic phone calls before kickoff enabled starting 15 and a couple of subs to be assembled! 

Roger Drabble took over the captaincy in the absence of Stradling (who continued his run of only playing away games) and along with Dave Norman, who was assisting with the team management, managed to rally the troops and instil belief that a win was achievable. 

Bridgy started the game aggressively and an early rolling maul was driven deep into the opponents half. Sam Russell gave another strong performance in the back row winning numerous turn overs and crossed the line to get the scoreboard ticking for the home side. Moments later the ball was spun to the backs and slick hands from Dan Steward and Will Kerry released Hambleton to round his opposite number to score in the corner. 

Norton mainly looked to use their well organised pack to drive Bridgwater backwards and managed to score two tries from good drives from line outs. Damo Marsh was given 10 mins in the bin for collapsing a further rolling maul just meters away from the try line. 

Ed Driver returned to the Bridgy line up and appeared to enjoy the occasion with some power carries and crashed over the try line taking several Norton players with him. Drabble then made a sniping break from the back of a ruck to cruise in under the posts for a proper scrum half try. 

The second half was a little scrappier with both sides struggling to control the ball consistently. Norton managed to use the forwards well and a sustained good pressure to squeeze over the line despite some determined defence. 

In broken play Bridgy looked dangerous when releasing the backs and after the ball was passed along the line to French Alex he cut inside and popped the ball back to Kerry and Steward who shipped the ball to Hambleton to sneak into the corner. Bridgy then scored a cracking team try and secured a line out on half way. The forwards ran some super lines, luring in the Norton defenders in textbook fashion before unleashing the backs who displayed clinical hands to draw in the remaining defenders to put Brakes into space on the overlap to run the ball in for a lovely try. 

With not long left to play, two Norton players received second yellow cards for cynical infringements at the breakdown. In desperation, Norton looked to pass the ball from deep and Kerry put in a big hit on his opposite number and forced him to spill the ball which Hambleton was happy to gather and run around the covering prop to ensure jug duties were not avoided. 

Will Kerry found his range this week and landed 4 conversions and Norton were successful with just one. Two young French debutants, Alex and T-BO both made impressive debuts and despite lacking skills in the  English language department,  managed to communicate in the universal language of rugby. 

Bridgy showed a lot of passion and determination in front of the home crowd and produced a cracking all round performance with every player sticking to the task to ensure all five available points were secured. A great team performance.

Team: Brakes, Rae, Hambleton, Kerry, Alex French, Steward, Drabble (Capt), Marsh, Knight, Walker, Page-Symonds, Driver, Tibo French, Russell, Hicks

Reps: Trunks, Coates (Used), Moulding (Not Used)

Category: 2nd Previews / Reports -XV, 2nd XV News

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