Wellington 2nds 12, BARFC 2nds 56 (21/11/15)

AN Other | 21/11/2015

Last weekend, Bridgwater second team attempted to continue their so far unbeaten run this season when they travelled to Wellington. Bridgwater were without Rob Thompson and Nick Spellissy in the pack who both returned to the first team for the weekend’s encounters. Ali Blundell was exchanged for Rob Thompson and Joe Sluman came off the bench to start in place of Spellissy. Dan Lang returned from a cheeky mid-season holiday. With Mitch Windsor staring down the barrel of a lengthy spell on the side line after picking up some serious tendon damage, Olly Steward returned to the second team, marking his return after recovering from his own surgery.

For only the second time this season, Bridgwater conceded the first points of the game and went 7-0 down after a strong driving maul from Wellington.

Fly-half Collings was first on the score sheet for Bridgwater after an effort more akin to a front row player than a number 10. After he was caught in possession on the edge of the Wellington 22 he simply over-powered his opposite man, using his greater size to his clear advantage. After disposing of the Wellington fly-half Collings had a simple run in near the posts. John Hill continued where he left last week and slotted his first conversion of the game, 7-7.

Bridgwater attempted to exact revenge and score their own driving line out but an attempted sack led to Scott Woolford arcing around the side of the maul and taking a trundle. A couple of phases later Joe Sluman finished the effort when he powered over the line. Hill converted the extras to extend Bridgwater into a 7-14 lead.

Bridgwater earned a penalty in front of the posts and elected to kick their way into a stronger position. Unfortunately, Hill uncharacteristically spooned the attempt and the opportunity went begging. Fortunately, Will Kerry scored unopposed after a good backs move and some great running lines scythed open the Wellington defensive line. Kerry cantered in from almost 30metres out with excess support players left and right. Hill added the extras as a formality 7-21.

The final score of the half went in favour of Bridgwater and came courtesy of George Sluman. With the backs tied up in a ruck after a good break from deep inside the Bridgwater half, the three-quarter line was full of forwards. The front row demonstrated a superb plethora of passing techniques after both Tom Hillman and Scott Woolford carried forward well and distributed to the supporting players. The latter offloaded to Sluman who had Jay Owens in support. Sluman sold the remaining defender with a simple dummy and cruised in under the posts and secure the bonus point before the half time whistle. Hill converted to extend Bridgwater’s lead to 7-28.

After half time, Owens’ hard work and support play was finally rewarded when he scored his first try of the game. I can confirm he did score it somehow but I can’t remember how it happened. It -was close enough for Hill to convert though which extended Bridgwater’s lead to 7-35.

Joe Sluman then secured his brace. With the Bridgwater pack dominant in the scrum they stole one against the head. Sluman picked up from the back of the scrum and took the ball for a stroll. He palmed away both half-backs on the way to the line and just about had the gas to finish as he was tackled over the line near the posts. Hill tapped over the extras, 7-42.

Wellington had not given up and managed a consolation try after another good driving line out. The Bridgwater pack were slow to react to the driving maul and it was a case of too little too late when Wellington forced their way over the line. The conversion was missed, 12-42.

Owens was the second Bridgwater player to secure his brace after a slick lineout near the half-way line supplied the backs with quick ball. Owens cut a simple but clinical line, bisecting the Wellington centres and ended up crossing the line at walking speed, completely unopposed. Hill stepped up to perform his usual duties and made the 5-pointer a 7-pointer, 12-49.

James Collings became the third Bridgwater player to score a brace on the afternoon and scored his second in a very similar fashion to his first. A miss-handled pass left Collings static in midfield but he demonstrated superior strength over his opposite number and disregarded him on another bull-dozing run to the line.

Bridgwater struggled with their clinical finishing in the sticky conditions under foot and will need to demonstrate a much higher level of skill in the months to come if they want to remain undefeated at the top of the table.

For those BARFC fans that aren’t heading to Camborne for the day with the first team this weekend, the second team are in action against Yatton II at College Way with a 1430 kick off.

Team: Hill, Lang, Owens, Kerry, Collings, Denovan, Caddick; Tew, Hillman, Woolford, Blundell, Page-Symonds, Stradling, G Sluman (Capt), J Sluman

Substitutes: (All used) Shaw, Ranson, Steward

Tries: Collins (2), J Sluman (2), Kerry, G Sluman, Owens (2)
Cons: Hill (8)