Bridgwater and Albion 21- North Petherton 22
South West One (West)
The result of this pulsating local derby, played under lights in front of a crowd well in excess of 1000, hung in the balance right up until the dying minutes when North Petherton scored a late converted try to claim the bragging rights for the second time this season.
Games between these two evenly balanced sides in recent years have produced high octane encounters and this was certainly no exception and gave the fans of both sides something to cheer about.
The opening exchanges were evenly matched with both sides enjoying periods of pressure that resulted in scoring opportunities which came to no avail.
However it was Bridgwater who broke the deadlock on 23 minutes when player coach Wayne Sprangle charged down a clearance on the right and ran down the line to score a try that Stuart Heal converted.
That looked like being the only score of the half but North Petherton had other ideas and on 37 minutes an impressive break from young Nic Sestaret on the left resulted in Mitch Needham going over for a try which Harry Auton converted to make it 7-7 at the break.
Bridgwater started strongly after the interval and five minutes into the half Richard Bright was on hand to score a try from close range following pressure, that Heal converted. Petherton responded strongly and created pressure on the Bridgwater line that eventually was rewarded when James Taylor crashed over for an unconverted try.
On 65 minutes a good run by Rob Gurnett resulted in him scoring a try which Heal converted to extend the hosts’ lead to 21-12. With just over five minutes of the match remaining North Petherton were awarded a penalty that Auton slotted home to make the score 21-15.
From this point the game was anyone’s and both sides gave it their all. However, in the end it was North Petherton who dug the deepest to claim the spoils when James Taylor went over to the left of the posts for his second try of the match which Auton added the extras to, making the final score 21-22.
This was a local derby to remember and a great spectacle and fine example of the quality of the game between two sides based within a few miles of each other.
Scorers-
Bridgwater and Albion tries- 3- Wayne Sprangle, Richard Bright and Rob Gurnett.
Conversions- 3- Stuart Heal.
Bridgwater and Albion- Lewis Phillips, Adam Greenslade, Craig Blyde, George Musgrave, Dan Kemmish, Wayne Sprangle, George Sluman, Ethan Trebble- Westlake, Tom Fournier, Stuart Heal (Capt), Will Monro, James Collings, Rob Gurnett, Kyran Devitt and Richard Bright.
Replacements all used – Matt Ranson, Harvey Derby and Garryn Basson.
Category: Previews / Reports -XV
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