Bridgwater & Albion RFC beat Chard to progress in Papa Johns Cup
Bridgwater & Albion RFC 29-20 Chard
A hat-trick of tries from Alex Knight helped Bridgwater & Albion through to the next round of the Papa Johns Cup when they beat Chard 29-20, at College Way, but the visitors made them fight all the way.
Both of the meetings between two sides in the league were close affairs, with each winning on their own ground, and this was no different. Both sides at times, had the upper hand, but in the end it was the hosts who kept their nerve to triumph in front of a large and vociferous crowd.
The visitors made their intentions clear from the off. Following early pressure, they took the lead on 10 minutes with an unconverted try.
Bridgwater came straight back at their opponents. Following a kick to touch and the ensuing line out, the ball found its way to Alex Knight who crashed over for his first try of the afternoon. Kyran Devitt added the extras to.
Home side extended their lead at College Way
The home side extended their lead shortly afterwards when a cross field clearance from Devitt found left touch. The following line out resulted in a scrum for Bridgwater from which Alex Knight broke and went over for his second try. This made the score 12-5.
On 20 minutes a kick down the right flank was cleverly caught by Jono Hayes, who went over for an unconverted try.
Chard then played themselves back into the game. Just before the half-hour mark doubled their tally with a try between the posts.
The visitors were very much in the ascendancy at the stage of the game, and almost with the next phase of play worked the ball across their backs before a converted try levelled the scores.
With half time in sight Chard were awarded a penalty which was duly slotted home. It looked like they had given themselves a clear lead, when they looked to have crossed the line but the try was held up thanks to some solid defensive play by the Albion. This made the score 17-20 at the break.
Albion regained lead after restart
Within minutes of the restart, Albion had regained the lead. A long clearance to the left wing found Danny Mahoney, who raced to the line to touch down in the corner.
Chard were then reduced to 14 when they had a player yellow carded for an illegal tackle, and from the following penalty the hosts looked to have scored at try but it was held up.
The home side continued to create pressure, but try as they may, they were unable to score. However, on 65 minutes they got their reward when Alex Knight went over for his third and hat-trick try, which Devitt converted, making the score 29-20.
The final 20 minutes of the game were very much an end-to-end affair as both sides looked to create pressure and add to their tally, but all to no avail and despite their best efforts, the score remained 29-20 to Bridgwater & Albion.
The Albion are now into the next stage of the competition with the next round due to be played on Saturday, 10th May. Their likely opponents will be one of the Cornish sides.
Bridgwater & Albion RFC Team
Harry Pentelow, Tom West, Taylor Buller (captain), Alex Knight, George Sluman, Ollie Phillips, Jono Hayes, Charlie Willcox, Josh Frost, Trystan Hudson and Kyran Devitt.
Replacements- Matt Bishop, Harvey Fisher, Will Clapham, Lewis Plece, James Collings.
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Category: 1st XV News
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