Bridgwater & Albion RFC 34-31 Gordon League
Bridgwater & Albion RFC returned to league action after a four-week break when they hosted Gordon League on Saturday afternoon, and what a game it turned out to be with the result in doubt until the final whistle.
However, it was the hosts who ran out the winners to notch up their third victory in the last four matches.
Albion took the initiative after five minutes. Good work by both Taylor Buller and Karolis Urbonas won them a penalty. Kyran Devitt slotted home.
The away team hit back
Gordon League came straight back. Following a burst up the touchline by their winger, they were awarded a lineout from which they bundled over for an unconverted try.
On 10 minutes the visitors extended their lead. Their fleet-footed winger collected the ball from a scrum in his own half and ran almost the length of the pitch to score a try at the other end. This was converted to make it 12-3 to Gordon League.
The hosts brought themselves back into the game when, firstly, Shaun Mahoney burst through, Josh Frost kicked on, but Devitt couldn’t get downward pressure onto the bouncing ball. However, Albion kept pressing and after some good handling Alex Knight went over for a try. Devitt converted.
Gordon League extended the lead when their centre eluded several tackles to go over for a converted try making it 19-10 in their favour.
Albion came back in the 34th minute and following a high tackle, Devitt kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears.
With half-time approaching, the visitors won a penalty, which they kicked to touch, from which the catch-and-drive was successful. They scored an unconverted try.
The hosts, however, had the final say when they were awarded a penalty close to the Gordon League line. Buller tapped and eventually managed to squeeze over for a try, to which Devitt added the extras. This made it 24-20 at the break.
The second half
The first 20 minutes of the second half were a pretty even affair until Jono Hayes went close to scoring for the hosts but Gordon League cleared.
In the 64th minute, Albion created pressure by moving the ball side to side to stretch the Gordon League defence. Their relentless attacking paid off as Gavin Knight crashed over for a try. Devitt then converted, which put the home side into the lead 27-24.
Gordon League regained the lead in the 70th minute thanks to an opportunist try by their winger who, although the referee hadn’t blown his whistle play appeared to have halted, and he ran over to score a converted try.
Albion faced the dying minutes of the game with 14 players after Mahoney was yellow-carded. Despite this, they attacked strongly, and Hayes raced in to score near the posts. Devitt converted to make the final score 34-31.
Next weekend Albion are away against Old Redcliffians, who ran out 32-16 winners when the sides met in November.
Bridgwater & Albion RFC Team
Kyran Devitt, Jay Darrell, Josh Frost, Charlie Willcox, Jono Hayes, Jay Owens, Jon Hill, Shaun Mahoney, George Sluman, Rowan Traynor, Leigh Parker, Taylor Buller (captain), Alex Knight, Gavin Knight and Karolis Urbonas.
Replacements all used- Harry Pentelow, Aiden Cable and Josh Nelson.
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Category: 1st XV News
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