Tribute South West One West

Bridgwater & Albion 40, Wadebridge Camels 29

BRIDGWATER & Albion scored six tries on their way to a 40-29 victory over Wadebridge Camels on Saturday, writes Tony Pomeroy.

Rob Allen crossed twice, while Nick Spellissy, Roger Drabble, Matt Hastie and a penalty try accounted for the rest - Tayler Buller added five conversions.

This was a game that Bridgwater should have had tightly sewn up in the first half.

A first half lead of 21-0 was reduced to 21-12 whilst home hooker Matt Hastie spent time in the bin either side of half time and in the final ten minutes, with Bridgwater's Garryn Basson in the bin, the score slipped from 40-17 to 40-29.

After six minutes, a good forward drive took Bridgwater close to the visitors line, before a lovely inside pass from Ash Pippard wrong-footed the defence leaving Rob Allen an easy run to score the opening try.

In the absence of regular kicker, Stu Heal, Tayler Buller took over the kicking duties and landed the easy conversion.

Bridgwater were in control and after 18 minutes a loose kick out of defence by the visitors was fielded on half-way by Bryan Webb.

He handed on to Nick Francis who wriggled his way down the touchline before passing inside to Nick Spellissy who scored easily. Buller again converted.

After 26 minutes, Bridgwater appeared to lose the ball forward in the visitors 22 - Camels cleared their lines to halfway where the kick was gathered by Webb again.

He again made good ground and the ball eventually finished in the hands of Allen who scored his second try, converted by Buller.

Then came the yellow card for Hastie followed immediately by a score for the visitors when skipper, Mark Grubb, crashed over from a driving maul. The try was unconverted leaving the score 21-5 at the interval.

After the restart, Wadebridge prop Jack Scott scored to reduce the deficit further, but Bridgwater bounced back and with Wadebridge apparently waiting for a whistle that did not come, Roger Drabble darted over from seven yards.

Bridgwater continued to attack and a long period of pressure led to a penalty try, Albion's fifth score of the afternoon.

Wadebridge hit back immediately when Pengelly again sliced through the home defence but this time reached the line for a deserved try.

Hastie won the ball from the kick off and following concerted pressure and a number of penalties, he was at the bottom when a driving maul crossed the line.

But the final ten minutes belonged to the visitors - Basson was binned for slapping the ball away as it emerged from a ruck in the Bridgwater 22 and almost immediately, Scott got his second try, and his side a four-try bonus point, converted by Grubb.

With five minutes to go, replacement Lee Betts got the fifth try for the visitors to make the final score 40-29.

Bridgwater face Bideford next weekend (April 12), in their final league game of the season.

Scorers: Bridgwater & Albion Tries: Allen (2), Spellissy, Drabble, Hastie, Penalty Try Cons: Buller (5)

Wadebridge Camels Tries: Scott (2), Mark Grubb, Pengelly, Betts Cons: James Grubb (2)

Bridgwater Team Nick Francis, Steve Ward, Rob Allen, Garryn Basson, Bryan Webb, Ash Pippard, Roger Drabble, James Bryant, matt Hastie, Joe Bussell, Ali Blundell, Dan Kemmish, Nick Spellissy, Ollie Dunn, Tayler Buller.

Replacements used: Scott Woolford, Rhys Satchell not used : Simon Martin Referee: Paul Box (Somerset Society)