BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC 150 YEARS – Further information on the past 150 Years from Scribe
BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC 150 YEARS
Having set the scene with the profile of the club’s centenary season in 1975/76, Scribe now continues on reviewing Albion’s history taking in the first season of the new century – 1976/77.
Whilst Bridgwater & Albion did not play as many games as in the exhausting centenary season (53) they were not far short this time playing 46 – of which 23 were won and 5 drawn. The 1st XV was led by Mike Taylor – son of earlier playing stalwart Jack Taylor; Mike Berry continued to captain the United XV with Barry Parr taking the reins in the Athletic XV. The club coach was Bob Payne.
The season started with consecutive day home defeats to Stroud and Richmond visiting again after honouring our centenary celebrations last time out. However the team quickly recovered and defeated Weston-super-Mare 8-3 and Barnstaple 12-11 in its next two matches to put the record straight. October 1976 was a busy month with eight games of which Albion won five and lost to Taunton on the opening Saturday. Weston-super-Mare gained revenge for their earlier defeat by winning 9-6 on their own ground in early November before Pontypridd honoured the Broadway Ground but won 31-3. December was also a productive month with four wins including Weston-super-Mare (9-3) and Taunton (17-3).
In the New Year of 1977 then doubles were conceded to both Torquay and Stroud but there was a significant 16-6 win at Havant. Albion were making their way through the Somerset Cup and in February beat Weston-super-Mare 15-6 and Avon & Somerset Police 13-6 to advance to the final. Albion had first won the Somerset Cup which was resurrected in the 1969/70 season in 1972/73 and a semi-final defeat against Bath last season denied them. This time they were up against Old Redcliffians from Bristol whom ironically they had beaten in the 1973 final in extra time 15-9. The sides were to draw again in the first final meeting – 9-9 and in the replay (the only time the Somerset Cup has been replayed) then Albion triumphed 18-9. Ironically, only two players did all of the scoring in both matches with Albion’s Jerry Winter scoring Albion’s 27 points including the only try of the two matches and Geoff Luker kicking all Redcliffians’ points.
The Cup win buoyed Albion for a good run in to the end of season won 5 and drew 2 of their last nine games including a memorable victory at Clifton who were opening their new ground on 5 April (12-9) where a long range David Newman try and an equally long Jerry Winter drop goal secured the spoils. All three Easter games against Birmingham, Old Haberdashers and Old Millhillians fermented what had been results-wise a very satisfactory season.
The United XV won 19 out of its 31 fixtures. The side won 10 of 13 games before Christmas with the highlights being a 40-9 home victory against Swanage & Wareham; a home 32-0 victory over Taunton; and a 6-3 victory at Victoria Park against one of the stronger 2nd XV’s around – Clifton Wanderers where Frank Guard’s two penalty goals were sufficient to earn victory. Whilst form dwindled in the second half of the season, the side still completed doubles over Frampton Cotterell, Taunton United, Winscombe and Burnham-on-Sea.
The Athletic XV played 24 matches winning 12 and losing 12 but coming out on top against its more local rivals – Taunton, North Petherton and Old Morganians.
Category: Club News
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