Tribute Somerset 1

Castle Cary 13, Bridgwater & Albion II 13

JOE Stradling’s try with the last play of the game earned BridgwaterI a dramatic draw at Castle Cary on Saturday.

The conversion from the touchline drifted agonisingly wide of the upright, to deny Albion the win – Gavin Knight’s try had earlier given them a first-half lead but Cary fought back after the break.

Bridgwater played the first half down the considerable slope at Cary but were unable to fully capitalise on their advantageous position.

A lacklustre display from the Bridgwater side saw them produce their worst performance of the season where they never really looked like they even got off the bus. Although solid as ever in the lineout, they struggled in the scrum against a physically bigger pack.

The lack of discipline from both sides contributed to a very stop-start but physical game.

Bridgwater conceded an early penalty allowing the Cary fly half, who had a fine game with the boot, to slot a straight forward penalty and take an early lead 3-0.

Eventually, Bridgwater won a lineout 20 metres out and the pack rolled the maul forward.

Once over the try line, Gavin Knight dropped off the back scoring the first try of the game.

John Hill (snr) capitalised on a long-range penalty in front of the sticks to extend Bridgwater’s lead to 3-8 – but, after the break, Cary finally managed to force their way over the line and score out wide.

The conversion was successful, which meant the lead returned to Cary 10-8.

Cary added a penalty to extend the lead to five points, after Tregenna and Hill had been sin-binned – and, as they returned to the field, Bridgwater set up another driving maul and Stradling dropped down in the corner to level the scores at 13-13.

The conversion from out wide was agonisingly missed and with it the final whistle was blown.

Team: Hill (Srnr), Tregenna, Johnson, Shaw, Lang, Collings, Hill (Jnr); Saunders, Knight, Woolford, Lewis, Page-Symonds, Stradling, Sluman (Capt), Steward. Reps: (used) Russell, Ranson; (unused) Moulding.