Bridgwater & Albion RFC 35- 33 Cleve RFC – Match Report Saturday 8th March
.Bridgwater & Albion RFC roared back into action after an enforced five-week break with a victory over table toppers Cleve. Cleve had only been beaten once previously this season.
The game was not for the faint hearted and was played at a rate of knots throughout with the result hanging in the balance until the final play of the game.
The car park at College Way was full to overflowing. There was a large crowd, swollen by the guests of match sponsors Maxwells and Hopkins Concrete.. In addition, the Albion Second XV had played Wellington Seconds in an earlier match, and the Albion Third XV hosted a reunion in the Players Bar.
Bridgwater & Albion RFC Team took the game to the visitors
The Bridgy Boys took the game to the visitors right from the start. Within minutes of the kick off, Kyran Devitt put the hosts ahead with a try in the right-hand corner.
Bridgwater maintained pressure on Cleve. Cleve made their first foray into home territory after 12 minutes when Matthew Jarvis scored in the corner.
Both sides continued to attack at every opportunity. On the 15-minute mark, Bridgwater were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Devitt slotted home. The kicker extended the hosts lead with another penalty on half an hour. This made the score 11-5.
Bridgwater were in the ascendancy, and following a period of pressure, George Sluman crashed over to the left of the posts for a try. Devitt converted.
Cleve forced two scrums
Cleve, however, responded quickly and went straight back onto the attack, creating a period of pressure and forcing two scrums. The home defence held firm, and the score remained 18-5 at the break.
The top of the table side came out strongly at the start of the second half and but for a last ditch tackle by Rowan Traynor they would have scored.
Cleve maintained the pressure on the Bridgwater try line and five minutes into the half Theo Garnett went over for a try which Jarvis converted to reduce the arrears.
A Devitt penalty extended the Albion lead but within minutes Cleve had responded with a try by Garnett converted by Jarvis to make the score 21-19.
Cleve RFC reduced to 14 players
Cleve were reduced to 14 players when Will Warman was yellow carded. During his absence, the hosts went further ahead with a try from Taylor Buller which Devitt converted.
Bridgwater then found their numbers reduced when Jay Owens was sent to the sin bin. Despite this, they continued to defend strongly. Eventually, however, Cleve found their way through when Cam Bull scored a tr,y which Jarvis converted to bring the visitors to within two points of their hosts
With the clock ticking down, the tension mounted as Cleve tried hard to add to their score. With little time remaining, the visitors scored a converted try, putting them into the lead 28-33.
Both sides were giving it their all as Cleve were awarded a penalty inside the Bridgwater half, which would have put the game to bed for them. Their kicker, however, exceeded the time limit, and from the resulting play, Owens found touch deep in Cleve territory.
A Bridgwater lineout eventually resulted in Alex Knight crashing over for a try to level the scores. Devitt then slotted home the conversion, and the referee blew for full time with the final score 35-33.
Bridgwater deservedly beat the top of the table side to send the delighted players and supporters homeward. This was one of the most exciting games seen at College Way for a while.
This coming Saturday, the Albion travel to face Clifton Seconds, who occupy second place in the table.
Bridgwater & Albion RFC Team
Karoli Urbonas, Gavin Knight, Harry Pentelow, Tom Hopkins, Taylor Buller cpt, Alex Knight, George Sluman, Rowan Traynor, Jon Hill, Jay Owens, Jono Hayes, Charlie Willcox, Josh Frost, Trystan Hudson and Kyran Devitt.
Replacements- Stef Pierce, Will Clapham and Ollie Phillips.
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Category: 1st XV News
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