Bridgwater & Albion RFC 20-19 Taunton Seconds
Bridgwater & Albion RFC 20-19 Taunton Seconds
This was a hard-fought game between two sides who needed to win to ease the threat of relegation. It was end-to-end and played at a frantic pace throughout. Both teams enjoyed periods of domination, but it was the hosts who held on to win by the narrowest of margins.
In front of a large crowd swollen with many visiting supporters, the Albion got off to a flying start. After six minutes, Harvey Fisher went over in the right-hand corner for an unconverted try.
Sin bin for Taunton player
Taunton came back strongly and mounted a series of attacks. During one attack, Sam Snell was sent to the sin bin, reducing the visitors to 14.
During his absence, Albion were awarded a penalty just inside the Taunton half, which was taken quickly. The ball was worked down the left wing to Danny Mahoney, who crossed for a try to double the lead.
The hosts were looking to attack at every opportunity. They looked well placed to add to their tally before a chip forward was charged down and a strong run saw Taunton deep into home territory, before the threat was eventually cleared.
On the half-hour mark, Kyran Devitt made a strong break down the left, which led to a scrum. The ball came out and found its way to Shaun Mahoney, who charged over the line for an unconverted try.
With the first half coming to a close, a long cross-field kick by Jay Owens found touch in the left corner. Then from the line out, Albion drove for the line, and Fisher crashed over for his second try of the afternoon.
In the dying minutes, Taunton regrouped and mounted a final attack. This was repelled by the home side, during which Shaun Mahoney was yellow carded, shortly after the whistle went, with the score 20-0.
After half-time…
The visitors came out strongly from the break. On 48 minutes, after a period of pressure, Alex O’Brien put his team on the scoresheet. He went over for a try, to the left of the posts. Andrew Humberstone converted.
Taunton kept on the attack. Five minutes later, Freddy Elliott narrowed the gap when he scored an unconverted try to make it 20-12.
The Albion continued to create chances. Twice they won a lineout within sight of the try line, only for the ball to be thrown too long and the advantage being handed back to their opponents.
With 15 minutes of the game remaining, Alex Knight made a last-ditch try-saving tackle when a Taunton player was clear and heading for the line.
The game continued to be fiercely contested. As it moved into the final stage, Bridgwater found themselves down to 14 players when Taylor Buller was yellow-carded.
Taunton weren’t done yet. A strong run by Elliott saw him go over for his second try of the game. This was converted, bringing his side to within one point of the hosts.
Bridgwater, however, rallied well and finished the game on the attack before the whistle blew as it ended 20-19.
This was a game that Albion could have won comfortably if they had taken all of their chances and made fewer handling errors, but they will be happy to have won and move up the table.
This weekend they travel to play Old Bristolians before returning to host Clifton Seconds on 24th January.
Bridgwater & Albion RFC Team
Kyran Devitt, Danny Mahoney, Josh Frost, Charlie Willcox Jono Hayes Jay Owens, Jon Hill, Shaun Mahoney George Sluman, Alex Knight, Tom West Taylor Buller, Harry Pentelow Harvey Fisher, Karolis Urbonas
Replacements- Gavin Knight, Aiden Cable and Ollie Phillips.
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Category: 1st XV News
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