Bristol Barbarians 20, BARFC 2nds 25 (26/09/15)

AN Other | 27/09/2015

New league leaders Bridgwater 2s had a re-jiggled front row for their away encounter against 4th placed Bristol Barbarians. Bridgwater were without props Scott Woolford and Adrian Tew due to selfish in-season holidays. They were ably replaced by Gary Saunders and Brett Shaw – whom was making his first appearance of the season for the 2nd XV. Gavin Knight also made his first start of the season for the 2s after plying his trade in the first team for the first few rounds of games this season. The starting 15 were reinforced with a Tom³ bench – Hillman, Lewis and Denovan. The game was a stop-start affair with injuries coming as frequently as the Welsh national team.

Bridgwater lost the toss and had to play down the significant slope in the first half. It was the perfect start for Bridgwater after winning a penalty from a line out drive after only 4 minutes. They kicked to the corner and attempted a long throw to the back of the line out. Unfortunately it was too long and missed the intended target of Mitch Windsor. Fortunately, Doug Page-Symonds was there to clear up and, after gathering the ball, popped it back inside to Joe Stradling who managed to squirm over the line near the posts for the opening score. John Hill dutifully added the extras to give Bridgwater an early 0-7 lead.

It was clear that the Barbarians’ game plan was to utilize their big forward runners and they attempted to pound the Bridgwater defence into submission through a series of pick and goes. However, Bridgwater’s defence was stubborn and they refused to roll over and accept the hits, eventually earning themselves a penalty. Hill stepped up for the long range kick near the half way line and calmly bisected the posts, 0-10.
Minutes later, Bridgwater’s great defensive efforts were undone after they were penalised for being off their feet in a ruck on the fringes of their own 22. They were handed a lifeline when the Barbarians’ fly half pulled the kick just wide of the upright. After witnessing some injuries for the Barbarians’ team, Bridgwater were dealt a blow with Page-Symonds picking up a nasty shoulder injury which ended his afternoon early. Tom³ were reduced to Tom² with Tom Lewis coming on in place of Page-Symonds.

With half time looming, Bridgwater took another long range penalty shot at the sticks. Although the kick had the legs, the radar was out and the ball sailed over the posts just wide. With a minute left of the first half, the forwards drove on from the lineout, fronting up against their far bigger opponents. The ball was recycled out to the backs and Rob Gurnett cut through the Bristol line in the centre to score under the posts. Hill converted again to extend Bridgwater’s lead to 0-17.

The second half started in a worrying fashion with Barbarians earning a penalty at ruck time in front of the posts just 2 minutes in. This time there was no let off for Bridgwater and the kick was successful 3-17. The ball was kicked straight to touch by Bridgwater at the restart and possession was gifted back to Bristol on the half way line. Barbarians continued to execute their physical game plan and before long a lapse in concentration and a weak tackle allowed the Bristol prop to run through and score under the posts. The conversion was successful meaning Bridgwater’s lead had been reduced to 10-17 in just seven second-half minutes.

Bridgwater were starting to regret a couple of missed opportunities in the first half and questioned whether they had built up enough of a lead with the influential slope. However, the try and closing of the score seemed to revitalise their defence and they started to make their own way up the field. The ball was spilt to the floor and Stradling was first to pounce on it. Unfortunately, he did so as a Bristol Barbarians’ player attempted to fly-hack the ball. He took a boot straight to the eye and received a nasty split to his eyebrow/eyelid. Bridgwater looked to their bench and had to reshuffle as their second row replacement was already on the field. Tom² was reduced to just Tom as Hillman made his way onto the field. To accommodate the hooker’s arrival George Sluman stepped up from the openside flank to fill Stradling’s second row berth. Windsor switched flanks to allow Knight to drop back from hooker to blindside flanker and Hillman was allowed to take up his familiar position in the front row.

The reshuffle knocked a bit of momentum out of Bridgwater but they were able to re-organise and strike again. Gurnett broke through the line again and darted up the left wing offloading to Hill, who found the fresh legs of Hillman. Five metres out Hillman decided to take contact rather than test his speed around the outside. Bridgwater cleared out the ruck and quick ball saw Ryan Barnett score his 5th try of the season in the corner. Hill was winded in the build but recovered in time to take the conversion. The wide attempt was unfortunately missed meaning Bridgwater extended their lead to 10-22.

Barbarians hadn’t given up and came back again with their battering runs. Eventually, cracks appeared in the Bridgwater wall and some tired and sloppy tackling allowed Barbarians to score again near the posts. The converted try reduced Bridgwater’s lead to 17-22. Their good attacking work was almost instantly undone with some undisciplined defence. After Barbarians were accused of holding on in the ruck, Bridgwater had earned another kickable penalty. Hill re-built the cushioned lead with the kick and Bridgwater could breathe a sigh of relief at 17-25.

Bridgwater then had an opportunity to secure the four try bonus point with an attacking line out 10m out. However, their usually solid set piece failed them and Bristol attacked down the slope. Bridgwater defended desperately. Bristol earned themselves a scrum just outside the 22 and the referee signalled the final play of the game. Bridgwater then infringed by not releasing the tackled player in their attempt to snuff out the Bristol attack. Playing advantage, Barbarians attempted a drop goal which was pushed wide. The referee brought play back to the penalty and the final points of the game went to Bristol Barbarians who converted the penalty and earned themselves a losing bonus point 20-25.

Despite just missing out on the four try bonus point Bridgwater were ecstatic with the win. In their toughest game so far, they produced a gutsy performance and ground out a good win away from home against a massively physical side. With next weekend earmarked as a cup weekend, the second team have a week off before hosting what is expected to be another hugely physical game against 3rd placed Imperial.

Team: Hill, Barnett, Gurnett, Owens, Lang, Collings, Drabble; Saunders, Knight, Shaw, Page-Symonds, Stradling, Windsor, Sluman (Capt), Ranson
Reps: (All Used) Hillman, Lewis, Denovan
Tries: Stradling, Gurnett, Barnett
Cons: Hill (2)
Pens: Hill (2)

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