BARFC 20, Newent 15 (07/01/17)
This was a bruising encounter between two sides with very similar playing records, but at the end of the day it was Bridgwater who ran out the winners.
The flags flew at half mast and before the match began the players from both teams observed a minutes silence in memory of three Bridgwater and Albion stalwarts who had passed away recently- Jack Smith, Roy Vearncombe and Gerald Lomax.
When play got underway Newent dominated proceedings from the off and opened the scoring after six minutes when Will Mansfield went over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try.
The visitors continued to dominate and could have extended their lead but missed the chance when they failed to kick a straightforward penalty.
The home side were reduced to 14 men when Joe Bussell was shown the yellow card for a high tackle after which Newent continued to create pressure and pin the hosts in their own half.
The Gloucestershire side eventually extended their lead after 16 minutes when Tom Webb slotted home a long distance penalty.
Bridgwater eventually broke out of their own half and on 27 minutes they opened their scoring when the ever reliable boot of Stuart Heal kicked a penalty in front of the posts, after which there was no further score before the interval when it was 8-3 to Newent.
The home side seemed to have much more urgency about them when they re-appeared after the interval and after just two minutes Heal kicked a penalty in front of the posts.
The home side took the lead for the first time in the match when Heal slotted home his third penalty of the game.
Newent were reduced to 14 men when Jamie Meek was yellow carded and nine minutes later found their numbers further depleted when Russel Upton followed to the sin bin.
From the ensuing penalty Bridgwater added to their lead when Heal kicked his fourth penalty of the game from just left of the posts.
On half an hour Newent had Toby Freeman carded as Heal made it 15-8 when he kicked his fifth penalty of the game.
There was no keeping Heal out of the game and three minutes later he fielded a ball deep in his own half before setting off on a run that resulted eventually in Oscar Tregenna crashing over for a well deserved try in the right hand corner.
In the dying minutes Bridgwater replacement John Hill was yellow carded for obstruction and just on full time Brett Gardener burst through to score a try for Newent that Webb converted to make the final score 20-15 to the hosts.
Scorers
Bridgwater
Try: Tregenna
Penalties: Heal (5)
Newent
Tries: Mansfield and Gardener.
Conversions: Webb
Penalties: Webb.
Bridgwater and Albion: Lewis Phillips, Shaun Mahoney, Joe Bussell, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Dan Kemmish, Taylor Buller, Ollie Dunn (capt), Micky Norman, Tom Fournier, Stuart Heal, Oscar Tregenna, James Collins, Luke Plummer, Garryn Basson and Roger Drabble.
Replacements all used: Matt Ransom, George Sluman and John Hill.
Category: 1st XV News, Previews / Reports -XV
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