League status eventually held sway as the seasiders achieved bragging rights with this win over their neighbours.

 

Bridgwater fielded a somewhat experimental side, giving debuts to winger Drew Shaw and second row Tom Lewis. They also welcomed back Rob (Dolphin) Thompson for his first 1st XV match since his horrific ankle injury at Clevedon over a year ago. He played at flanker to allow Taylor Buller to move to No 8. Gavin Knight and Adrian Tew also started in the front row. On the bench was Rob Allen for his first outing since his facial injury at North Petherton earlier in the season.
On a lovely day for rugby, Weston kicked off. The ball was caught by a leaping Bridgwater player who was tackled in the air by home flanker Joe Pullin, who was yellow carded after only 10 seconds.

Bridgwater took the lead after three minutes when Chris Ashwin was on target with a penalty following a Weston offside.

James Martin was prominent in attack with a couple of good breaks of over 30m each, but both proved fruitless.

With the referee playing advantage, Stu Heal was wide with an opportunist dropped goal attempt but Ashwin doubled Bridgwater’s lead from the resulting penalty.

Allen then replaced the injured Oscar Tregenna.

Weston then began to work their way into the game. Fly half Iain Chisholm was wide with a 45m penalty attempt and then centre Sylvan Edwards went close to a try with a good break. From the resulting scrum, Weston drove over the Bridgwater line and number 8, Shaun Eaton, got an unconverted try.

On the stroke of half time, Weston took the lead. A penalty deep into the Bridgwater 22 set up a good platform and from the resulting line-out, Weston produced an unstoppable drive. They try was credited to prop Marlen Walker and converted by Chisholm from close to the touchline, giving the home side a 12-6 interval lead.

Joe Bussell and Matt Hastie replaced Tew and Knight at the interval. From the kick off, Weston ran the ball back at Bridgwater and with the visiting defence all at sea, centre Harry Jones scythed through the defence. He handed on to full back, Ross Bennett who scored an unconverted try in the corner. Buller was injured and replaced by George Sluman and Bridgwater returned to the attack. A penalty to five metres gave the visitors a good position, but Weston held firm and moved play to their 22. Hastie gathered a loose ball and fed skipper Ollie Dunn. He appeared to have been stopped but he had other ideas and suddenly, having escaped from the home defence, appeared with the ball deep in the Weston 22. His path to the line was clear and he scored under the posts giving Ashwin an easy conversion.

Chisholm than missed a simple penalty for Weston, the ball hitting a post. Weston then began to refuse goal kicks, opting for scrums instead as their forwards were looking strong. Edwards again crossed the Bridgwater line but could not ground the ball. After a series of penalties to Weston, the referee lost patience with Bridgwater and the inevitable result was a penalty try converted by Young, who had earlier replaced Tuttiett.
Jon Hill replaced Roger Drabble for Bridgwater and a penalty deep into the home 22 put the home side under pressure. It was then Bridgwater’s turn for a forward drive and Ali Blundell got the touchdown, converted by Ashwin. With the score at 24-20 into the final quarter, it was anybody’s game.

Bridgwater replaced Thompson with Manupenu and this meant centre Garryn Basson finishing the game as a flanker.

The final minutes belonged totally to the home side. Edwards finally got his try, converted by Young, then Jones scored an unconverted try in the corner before the final try, scored and converted by Young when Bridgwater firstly lost a scrum against the head and then had a clearing kick charged down.

The final score of 43-20 was perhaps a little harsh on Bridgwater but they were competitive to the end. They have wisely used this game to try new players and lessons will have been learned.
Next week, Bridgwater travel to Matson, who may be bottom of the league, but have a reputation as fighters who will not lie down. A hard game is in prospect. The next home game is on December 13th, against Camborne, currently third in the league despite a narrow 16-14 loss at Avonmouth OB in a re-arranged game today.

Scorers:
Weston super Mare 
Tries: Eaton, Walker, Bennett, Penalty Try, Edwards, Jones, Young
Cons: Chisholm, Young (3)

Bridgwater & Albion
Tries: Dunn, Blundell
Cons: Ashwin (2)
Pens: Ashwin (2)

Bridgwater Team:
James Martin, Drew Shaw, Garryn Basson, Chris Ashwin, Oscar Tregenna, Stu Heal, Roger Drabble, James Bryant, Gavin Knight, Adrian Tew, Ali Blundell, Tom Lewis, Rob Thompson, Ollie Dunn (Capt), Taylor Buller.

Replacements (All Used) : Matt Hastie, Joe Bussell, George Sluman, Jay Owens, Jervis Manupenu, Rob Allen, Jon Hill.

Referee: Brian Perry (Somerset )
Assistant Referees: Shaun Redman, John Beazer ( Somerset)