Chew Valley 19 – 20 Bridgwater & Albion

Emma Kemmish | 23/12/2019

A much changed Bridgwater & Albion side produced an excellent performance at Chew Lane, and despite difficult conditions saw off Chew Valley 20 points to 19.

Despite missing several regular names in the front row, Albion started brightly on a wet pitch and put the home side under considerable pressure in the opening exchanges. In the 8th minute, scrum-half Tom Fournier notched his first try, which Stuart Heal duly converted. The hosts recovered well however, and after 19 minutes had reduced the score to 7-5 thanks to a try in the corner.

With an advantage of the wind and slope in the first half, Albion wrestled back the initiative in the 32nd minute when prop Sam Adcock went over for a try. The reliable Stuart Heal converted again to give the visitors a half-time lead of fourteen points to five.

Chew, now playing with the elements in their favour, mounted several attacks early in the second half and scored in the 52nd minute to bring the match back in the balance at 14-12. Albion’s tactical awareness proved crucial here as some excellent kicking up the slope kept Chew pinned back in their own half. Heal took advantage of penalties conceded by the home side on two occasions, in the 60th and 67th minutes, taking the Albion lead to 20-12. Heal did miss a third penalty attempt, a difficult chance from 45 metres, but the visitors were holding firm.

The final minutes of the game were frantic as Chew searched for something from the game. They had a route back in after 72 minutes with a converted try near the post. It took some resolute defending in the closing exchanges to give Albion a well-earned victory on the road by 20 points to 19.

Scorers –

Bridgwater tries: Oskar White, Sam Adcock
Bridgwater conversions: Stuart Heal (2)
Bridgwater penalties: Stuart Heal (2)

Bridgwater team: Oscar White Will Monro Ryan Barnett Simon Honey Dylan Evans Stuart Heal Tom Fournier Wayne Sprangle George Sluman Eoghan Westhoff Dan Kemmish Ethan Trebble-Westlake Sam Adcock Gavin Knight Matt Ranson

Replacements: Tom Hopkins, Jack Longman and Jay Owens

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