B&A RFC 34 – NP RFC 20

Emma Kemmish | 30/11/2019

Webb Ellis Somerset Cup 2019-20

Bridgwater and Albion 34- North Petherton 20

Any match between these two near neighbours is always fiercely competitive and this game lived up to all the expectations of a local derby, which in the end saw Bridgwater and Albion reclaim the bragging rights.

The opening play was dominated by the home side who spent virtually the whole of the first quarter of an hour on the attack. They created two scoring opportunities but each time they were repelled by a strong North Petherton defence.

After 16 minutes North Petherton mounted their first serious attack on the Bridgwater line and were rewarded when Sam Williams crashed over in the left hand corner.

On half an hour Petherton doubled their lead when they won a loose ball mid field which eventually found its way to Alex Dinham who scored an unconverted try to the left of the posts.

Bridgwater opened their account shortly after when Stuart Heal slotted home a penalty from 25 yards which made the score 3-10 at the break

Shortly after the re-start Bridgwater reduced the arrears, when winger Will Monro, who produced a number of dazzling runs during the match saw some space and went over for a try in the left hand corner, to bring the hosts to within two points of Petherton.

It wasn’t long however before the visitors re-established a clear lead when following a break from half way by Jack Coles the ball was passed to Jon Gallagher who went over for a try which Jack Rees converted.

Just on the hour both teams were reduced to 14 men as each had a player yellow carded.

As the game went on Bridgwater were looking more and more threatening and on 55 minutes Will Monro appeared to have scored a try on the left but it was disallowed.

A five metre scrum was given which eventually resulted in Oskar White crashing over for an unconverted try near the left corner flag, making the score 13-17.

Bridgwater were very much in the ascendancy by this stage and creating substantial pressure which with 10 minutes to go was rewarded when Tim Blades scored a try to the left of the posts which Heal converted, giving the hosts the lead for the first time in the match.

North Petherton weren’t done however and levelled the scores shortly after when Rees slotted home a penalty.

The final few minutes were action packed and just when everyone was asking what would happen if the scores ended level Jordan Buller scored a try which Heal converted to reclaim the lead.

A streaker made an appearance much to the amusement of the large sized crowd and with the clock ticking down Bridgwater put the result beyond doubt when White scored his second try which Heal added the extras too, as the game finished 34-20.

1 Matt Ranson
2 Jordie Buller
3 Lewis Philips
4 Wayne Sprangle
5 Dan Kemmish
6 Karolis Urbonis
7 George Sluman
8 Ethan Trebble-Westlake
9 Tom Fournier d’Able
10 Stu Heal (Captain)
11 Kyran Devitt
12 Si Honey
13 Ryan Barnett
14 Will Monro
15 Oskar White
Relacements- first six used
16 Sam Adcock
17 Shaun Mahoney
18 Tim Blades
19 Tom Hopkins
20 Euogan Westhaff
21 James Collings
22 Jay Owens