BARFC 2nds 69, Chard 14 (27/02/16)

Bridgwater seconds hosted their counterparts from Chard at College Way and produced another solid performance to earn their 18th win of the season. Bridgwater gave a second team début to 1st team regular Tom Fournier D’Albe at scrum half and welcomed back John Hill to the starting XV. Ryan Gibson came back into the front row with James McLauglan and Matt Ranson coming into the back row. Regular captain George Sluman dropped to the bench so Sheriff Drabble led the force from fullback in the day’s encounter.

Bridgwater went close with an impressive lineout drive which travelled 25metres before being hauled down. Bridgwater kicked to the corner from the resulting penalty and successfully drove over the line with their second attempt. Brett Shaw claimed the score and John Hill was successful with his first kick of the afternoon, 7-0.

Bridgwater then had a spate of ill-discipline which ended with home side flanker, James McLaughlan, being penalised for deliberately being offside at the scrum and kicking the ball out of the field of play. The sanction was a penalty try awarded to Chard under the posts. Unsurprisingly the conversion was successful, drawing the teams level at 7-7.

Shortly after, Bridgwater spread the ball wide and by using the full width of the pitch, Drabble managed get around the defence and arc in under the posts. Hill successfully converted again regaining Bridgwater’s seven-point advantage, 14-7. Unfortunately, Kieran Windsor injured his ankle in the build-up was replaced by Dave Hughes.

Bridgwater claimed their third try back in the set piece. This time, a scrum from 5 metres out was halted short of the line before Joe Sluman peeled from the back to touch down over the line. Another successful Hill conversion extended the lead to 21-7.

James Collings picked up a knock but instead of slowing him down, it seemed to be just what the doctor ordered as it was shortly followed by an outstanding brace. The first came from within his own half where he threw a dummy before breaking through the defensive line. He threw two more dummies before brushing past the full back on his way to the line. The second was much more… route one. Collings ran in from the 22, handing off two people before scoring under the posts. Both tries were converted by Hill and Bridgwater quickly amassed a comfortable lead, 35-7.

Shortly after the half time break, John Hill fielded a kick on his own 10 metre line. He began an evasive run, carving his way past, inside, around and outside the chasing Chard defenders. He took the ball right up to the Chard 5 metre line before drawing another defender and offloading to Joe Stradling in support. Stradling was tackled by the last Chard player but rode the tackle over the line to score in the corner. Hill still managed to convert though, 42-7.

Chard then had a rare chance to attack and capitalised on some ill-discipline by kicking their way down the field, deep into Bridgwater territory. They patiently built the phases up before being held up over the line. However, the pressure did not ease and eventually the Bridgwater defence waned before Chard forced their way over the line. The wide conversion was successful, 42-14. Brett Shaw was injured in the process and was replaced by Scott Woolford.

After, James Collings’ earlier injury finally got the better of him and he had to be replaced. With George Sluman the only player left on the bench fit to play, the back-row forward had to fill in as a make-shift centre. Dan Lang ran a sublime dummy line which committed a handful of Chard defenders which allowed Sluman to waltz around and score under the posts with his first touch. Hill duly added the extras and further extended Bridgwater’s lead to 49-14.

Tom Hillman was sent to the naughty step for 10 after putting his hands in a ruck and then dump tackling a Chard player after the whistle. After the handbags dissipated, young Spud was sent marching. 2 minutes later, the Chard centre joined him for being off his feet and killing the ball.

With more space in the backfield for Bridgwater, they rattled through a few more tries out wide. First, Dave Hughes went over in the corner after some unselfish play from Lang. Bridgwater then scored off the kick off, returning the ball down the field. It was Sheriff Drabble with the decisive break and with a number of players queueing up in support, debutant Fournier D’Albe crossed the whitewash. Hill ruined his perfect kicking ratio by missing both conversions, 59-14.

Lang then took a try for himself, handing off two would-be tacklers before crashing over the line. Some great hands by the back division saw Hughes cross for his brace, again in the corner. Unfortunately, both conversions were again missed, 69-14. Although there was time for kick off, the game was played out without another score.

Bridgwater are at home for the second week in a row next week when they host Wellington second team at College Way.

Team: Drabble (Capt), Denovan, Lang, Collings, Windsor, Hill, Fournier D’Albe; Gibson, Hillman, Shaw, Page-Symonds, Stradling, McLaughlan, Ranson, J Sluman
Substitutes: (All used) Woolford, G Sluman, Hughes
Tries: Shaw, Drabble, J Sluman, Collings (2), Stradling, G Sluman, Hughes (2), Fournier D’Albe, Lang
Cons: Hill (7)

Category: 2nd Previews / Reports -XV, 2nd XV News