Hornets 2nds 45, BARFC 2nds 17 (05/04/14)

Bridgwater made the short trip up the M5 with a strong looking team, looking forward to a tough game against a Hornets side who won the reverse fixture 20 – 5 at College Way, back in December.

Some disrupted match preparation, due to a mini’s festival, resulted in a lacklustre start from Albion resulted in 3 tries in the first 20 minutes from hornets, the third try immediately followed the restart, Hornets sent quickly recycled ball wide, to release their very fast outside backs, who gassed around the outside, then cutback inside to beat the final two defenders for a fine personal score.

Bridgwater finally then managed to gain some possession, building through the phases before a moment of individual brilliance from Jon Hill the elder, who playing a fly-half, scythed through the Hornets line and race in for the try from 45m, which he duly converted.

There were no further scores this half, leaving the score at 19 – 7 to Hornets.

The second half started somewhat disappointingly for Bridgy, with the kick not travelling the stipulated 10 metres. Hornets opted for the scrum; however, Sam Knights intercepted the pass from the back of the scrum, and just won the race to the line to touch down for a dubious score, awarded by the referee, who was nowhere near play.

Bridgwater’s resurgence proved to be short-lived though, as Hornets then dominated play scoring a further 26 unanswered points, securing the bonus point along the way, before Barnett finished off some good play, racing in to score in the corner for his second senior try. He was ably assisted through Ranson via the loan of a pair of boots before kickoff.

The game finished 45 -17 to Hornets. The scoreline perhaps flatters the young Hornets side, as Bridgy did have periods of possession, with at least one try going begging because of a dropped ball; however Hornets were well deserved winners. Their sheer pace in the backs caused problems all afternoon, with most of their tries coming in this manner. Albion defended manfully for large parts of the game, but several poorly executed tackles proved costly.

Albion entertain second placed Imperial at College Way next weekend, before their final game of the season away to Wellington on the Thursday night.

Team: J. Hill (the younger), Barnett, Owens, Smith, Lang, J. Hill (the elder), Knights, Saunders, Norman, Ball, Northey (Capt), Foggin, Ranson, Lipscomb, Stradling.

Reps: (All used) T. Hill, Moulding, Burtenshaw

Tries: J. Hill (the elder), Knights, Barnett

Cons: J. Hill (the elder)

Category: 2nd Previews / Reports -XV