Bridgwater & Albion 2XV 71 – Keynsham 2XV 12
Bridgwater’s second string entertained Keynsham seconds on a windy and gloomy afternoon at College Way.
After a run of fine results, the boys were looking to make it 7 wins in a row taking the momentum into next week’s derby.
Bridgwater started brightly, fielding the kick off and quickly making inroads into the Keynsham defensive line with good use of their big forwards.
Applying early pressure, Bridgwater were awarded a scrum just inside their opponents 22. A dominant scrum allowed Joe Bussell to pick from the base and make yards. After a further phase, the ball was recycled quickly against the grain, eventually finding experienced campaigner Dave Norman in space on the wing who slid in for the first try. Conversion missed, 5-0.
Straight from the restart it appeared Bridgwater were still celebrating their early success allowing Keynsham to take advantage of some sloppy play. From a penalty the Keynshamfly half drilled the ball deep into Bridgwater’s 22. From the resulting lineout, an over throw was gathered and a missed tackle at the resulting ruck fringe allowed the visitors to waltz in easily. 5-7.
It was Keynsham’s turn to fall asleep after the restart. After a long, but hasty clearance kick Dan Page engineered a fine counter attack; using his pace to make 60 meters plus. When he was finally stopped, the ball spun from one side to the other, finding James ‘forrest’ Brakes in space on the wing, it was to be the first of his hat trick of trys. 10-7.
However Keynsham did not roll over and after a knock on, followed by some poor ruck defence once again, they dotted down out wide. 10-12.
Although Bridgwater looked dangerous in attack whenever they got the ball in hand; the same could not be said about their defence thus far. After some strong words under the posts, this was about to change. These would be the last points Keynsham scored that afternoon.
After some more forward dominance a line break resulted in Roger Drabble finding himself in clear space. Bearing down on the try line a Keynsham player decided to take him out illegally and with no other opponents covering for what would of been a certain score; the referee awarded a penalty try and issued the yellow cad to the offending player. 17-12.
Bridgwater now stepped on the gas and James broke from his own 22 leaving defenders in his wake. Making it 15 metres from Keynsham’s try line, he un-selfishly passed the ball back inside, taking the last defender completely out of the equation. Karolis Urbonas , who having tracked him all the way, deserved to dot the ball down under the sticks.
24-12.
The next score has to be a contender for try of the season. Again deep in Bridgwater’s own half, Joe Bussell gathered the ball. Still in heavy traffic he sliced his way through a number of defenders using his nimble feet and huge hand off to avoid would be tacklers he found himself in acres of space, much to his own amazement.
With two more defenders to beat, the most outrageous ‘dummy’ was thrown; time stood still as young Bussell, now at full tilt with defenders scattered everywhere, tongue fully wagging, zoned in on the try line from a full 70 metres, swan diving under the sticks.
31-12.
James Brakes quickly completed his hat trick; even though he was constantly moaning about his ‘injury’. Despite this he still managed to run in his second from a good 50 metres out after getting on the end of a Drabble break. 38-12.
His third came after a breakdown in Keynsham’s 22 was switched blind and he managed to expertly step the last 2 defenders, running the ball under the posts for an easy conversion. 45-12.
Having put in good shift and not being able to put up with his whinging any longer, James got his wish and was taken off; which handed 17 year old Joe Brazier his 2XV debut.
Playing out of position in the centres, returning Shaun Mahoney scored the first of his brace.
Having typically carried hard all afternoon, he was finally rewarded when quick hands from the backs allowed him to power his way through the initial tackle, dancing his way to the whitewash.
52-12.
Another debutant, Harvey Robinson carved through Keynsham’s lines once more, making a massive amount of ground. Having got tackled just short of the score line, the ball got quickly recycled with scrum half Roger Drabble going over for a score. 59-12.
From a penalty the ball was driven deep into Keynsham’s 22. The Forwards decided that all this free running rugby wasn’t good for their health; so from the resulting lineout a good old fashioned driving maul was formed. Gavin Knight was expertly controlling the ball at the back and he got his reward when the maul crashed over the try line. 64-12.
Shaun Mahoney finished off the afternoon after he crashed over from close range after another dominant scrum in the opponents 22; making the final score 71-12.
Bridgwater 2XV have dramatically turned their season around, now sitting at 4th place in the league table. Even after today’s one sided result the boys still found room to criticise themselves, which shows the massive shift in self belief and determination they now have compared to the first half of the season. Every credit to them, the coaching staff and fantastic support they receive week in week out.
Next week (Saturday 9th March) Bridgwater 2XV travel to their great rivals North Petherton.
Sitting one place (6 points) above them in the league this will be a tough encounter.
Good luck to both teams.
Team:
Norman, Knight, Coleman, West, Buck, Webb, Urbonas, Bussell.
Drabble, Hill, Robinson, House, Mahoney, Brakes, Page.
Reps (all used): Wrightson, Buller, Brazier.
Trys: Norman, Brakes (3), Urbonas, Bussell, Drabble, Knight, Mahoney (2), Penalty try.
Cons: Jon hill (7)
Category: 2nd Previews / Reports -XV
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