Bridgwater and Albion 24- Newent 15

South West One (West)

Bridgwater returned to winning ways and move up to fourth place in the table after beating their visitors Newent in a pulsating match at College Way.

Before the start of the match players and spectators observed a minutes silence to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict.

Bridgwater kicked off and were on the attack from the start and after one minute Stuart Heal slotted home a penalty to give his side an early lead.

On 13 minutes Heal extended Bridgwater’s advantage when he kicked a second penalty in front of the posts, awarded for offside.

From the re-start Newent produced a string off moves down the left side of the field before being were  awarded a scrum close to the try line, but the Bridgwater defence held firm.

The home side then enjoyed a period of pressure, and on 20 minutes the ball was hacked forward over the Newent try line followed by two Bridgwater players but the bounce just eluded them.

Eventually the pressure paid off for the hosts when Ethan Trebble Westlake scored a try near the posts which Heal converted to make the score 13-10.

Newent responded immediately with a try from Charlie Gellert which Tom Webb converted. The Forest of Dean continued to attack and shortly before the interval Gellert scored his second try which Webb converted which made the score 13-12 at the break.

The visitors came out strongly and five minutes into the second half they took the lead for the first time when Webb kicked a close range penalty awarded for offside.

Bridgwater were reduced to 14 men when Heal was yellow carded for a high tackle, but this disadvantage did not weaken their resolve and following a charge forward by Rob Thompson, who came on as a replacement in the second half, the hosts were awarded a penalty that Kyran Devitt kicked to put his side back in the lead 16-15.

Into the last quarter of the game Devitt found some space in the solid Newent defence and made a jinking run down the right touch line before passing to Adam Greenslade to score a try.

In the final minutes of the game Thompson made another impressive charge through the middle that was rewarded with a penalty for Bridgwater which Heal kicked to make the final score 24-15.

Scorers-

 Bridgwater and Albion

 Tries- – Ethan Trebble Westlake and Adam Greenslade.

Conversions- 1- Heal

Penalties 4- Stuart Heal 3, Kyran Devitt 1

Bridgwater and Albion-

Matt Ranson, Adam Greenslade, Craig Blyde, Dan Kemmish, Ethan Trebble Westlake, Gareth Clwyd-Jones, Jon Roberts, Wayne Sprangle, Tom Fournier d’Able, Stuart heal, Kyran Devitt, James Collings, Rob Gurnett, Ryan Barnett and Will Monro.

Replacements all used- Taylor Buller, Rob Thompson and Lewis Phillips.

Category: Previews / Reports -XV