Bideford 55, BARFC 24 (2/4/16)

Simply looking at the score, it is easy to imagine that this was a hammering for Bridgwater. This, however, is far from the truth. Just before half time, Bridgwater were 8-17 in the lead. This was reduced to 13-17 at the break and with fifteen minutes to go, Bridgwater were still in touch at 27-17. However, the home side more than doubled their tally in the final quarter of an hour as three Bridgwater errors gifted the home side three converted tries, giving the scoreboard an unreal appearance.

Bridgwater made a total of eleven changes from the last match in an effort to spice things up and halt the run of defeats.
From the kick off, Bridgwater were their own worst enemies, missing tackle after tackle as a fluent Bideford side tore into their visitors. Home winger, James Buckland, made the first break and when the ball reached No 8 Dean Folland he registered the first try after less than one minute. Olly Wickett’s conversion was wide. Bideford continued to hammer at the Bridgwater line but the defence held firm.
After seven minutes, Rob Gurnett broke through into the home 22 as Bridgwater mounted their first attack. The ball was patiently recycled and it was eventually moved right where Adrian Tew crashed over from fully one metre out. Chris Ashwin converted with an excellent kick from wide out on the right to give Bridgwater a somewhat unexpected lead at 5-7.
Bideford hit back hard and were disappointed to hear the referee whistle for a forward pass when a try looked certain. Bridgwater relieved the pressure from the ensuing scrum when Scott Franklin made 40m with a clearing kick to touch.
Bridgwater applied more pressure and Ashwin made a half break before handing on to Rob Allen who took the direct route to the line and scored near the posts and leave Ashwin with an easy conversion.
Bideford hit back hard and Bridgwater were fortunate that when they did cross the line, Bideford were unable to ground the ball. Bridgwater were penalised in the aftermath of the 5m scrum and Wickett narrowed the gap to 8-14.
Play flowed from end to end as both sides threw everything into attack. In the 34th minute, Bridgwater were awarded their first penalty of the game and almost immediately were awarded their second following a deliberate knock on that saw home winger San Olde sent to the sin bin. It was very refreshing to hear him agree with the referee’s decision.
The resulting penalty was on the half way line and, with the aid of a following breeze, Ashwin’s kick sailed high over the bar – a remarkable kick.
On the stroke of half time, Bridgwater lost Rob Allen to the sin bin for a technical offence. Bideford set up one final attack deep into injury time and when Bridgwater were again penalised – for the tenth time in the half – Wickett took the kick quickly – and in front of the mark some 6 m from the line – but was allowed to continue and scored before Bridgwater had time to react. Some referees would not have allowed the score but Wickett showed some compassion by missing the conversion to leave to game poised at 13-17.
The second half started like the first – Bideford attacked and Bridgwater missed tackles. However, after six minutes, Bideford took the lead when more weak tackling allowed Buckland to score his second try, converted by Wickett.
Bideford then butchered a very good chance for the bonus point try but it was not long in coming. Folland powered through the visiting defence before handing on to fellow back rower Alex Priest who powered through for the bonus point try converted by Wickett.
Rob Thompson made a great effort from the kick off, catching the kick and driving through the home defence but his efforts came to nought. Minutes later, a good Bridgwater move saw the ball reach winger Oscar Tregenna who was only stopped by a tackle that looked very high.
Bideford survived and play went back to the other end of the field. Bridgwater defended desperately but after a series of penalties near their own line, the referee lost patience and awarded a penalty try converted by Wickett. To compound matters, Dan Kemmish was yellow carded for his part in conceding the penalty try.
The final ten minutes were frantic. First, with Bridgwater throwing everything into attack and the Bideford defence holding firm, Ashwin tried a delicate chip into space deep in the home 22. The kick was charged down and Priest broke away from his own 22 before handing on to Calum Sumners who scored easily. Wickett converted.
Bridgwater, still with only 14 men, hit back and skipper, Ollie Dunn, receiving the ball some 40m out managed to break the home defence and scored a fine individual try under the posts making Ashwin’s conversion a formality.
The final five minutes got even worse. Jervis Manupenu tried another little chip out of defence but it was gathered by Priest who charged the 30m to the line for his second try, converted by Wickett.
With Bridgwater attacking into injury time, Bridgwater were awarded a penalty in the home 22. Looking to obtain a 4 try bonus point they took it quickly and as the ball was passed out, Wickett appearing to be well offside, intercepted the pass and sprinted the 80m to score in the corner. He rubbed salt into the wound by converting with a superb kick. It mattered little in the final reckoning, but it was symptomatic of much of the game, in that Bridgwater seemed to be on a different wavelength to the 20 yr old referee, Harry Walbaum, a Warwickshire Society Referee and a Criminology student at York University. Bideford were awarded 17 penalty and free kicks to Bridgwater’s 6 during the game and this itself will be a worrying statistic for the coaches.
Bridgwater’s main problem during the game was the number of first time tackles that were missed and the lack of cohesion in chasing kicks to pressurise the defence. The front row were not happy that the Bideford scrummage was always legal but only lost one scrum against the head. In the lineout, Bridgwater won three Bideford throws and losing only one of their own.
In general, Bridgwater’s play showed a great improvement over recent matches and if they can keep up the improvement, they would hope to finish the season with wins in their final three matches. Next week’s opponents, Avonmouth OB, are desperate for points as they are in relegation trouble and will be out to do the double over Bridgwater. A very tough game is in prospect and your support would be a great help to the players. Kick off will be at 3-00pm.

Scorers :
BidefordTries: Buckland (2), Priest (2), Wickett (2), Sumners, Penalty Try
Cons:Wickett (6)
Pen:Wickett

Bridgwater & Albion Tries: Tew, Allen, Dunn
Cons: Ashwin (3)
Pen: Ashwin

Bridgwater Team :
Rob Gurnett, Ryan Barnett, Rob Allen, James Collings, Oscar Tregenna, Chris Ashwin, Scott Franklin, Lewis Phillips, Gavin Knight, Adrian Tew, Dan Kemmish, Rob Thompson, Nick Spellissy, Ollie Dunn (Capt), Taylor Buller

Replacements all used: Scott Woolford, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Jervis Manupenu

Referee: Harry Walbaum (Warwickshire Society)

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Category: 1st XV News, Previews / Reports -XV