South West One (West)
Bridgwater & Albion 37, Chard 14

HOME captain Ollie Dunn led from the front with four tries in this hard-fought game of two very contrasting halves, writes Richard Walsh.

At the end, however, it was Bridgwater who ran out the comfortable winners, as result of which they climb to seventh place in the table.

The hosts were in the ascendancy from the off and crossed the try line only for the ball to be held up.

After 16 minutes, however, Dunn gave Bridgwater the lead when he scored a try that Stuart Heal converted.

Within five minutes, Chard levelled when John Humphreys latched on to a stray Bridgwater pass and hacked the ball towards the right-hand corner before gathering and touching down for a try he converted.

Chard took the lead on 26 minutes when new signing Raqib Siljeur collected a loose ball and beat the home defence before scoring a try Humphreys converted.

Bridgwater came back strongly but, on more than one occasion, they were let down by their final pass and Chard were able to clear their lines.

With five minutes to go until the break, however, a series of good moves for the home side was rewarded when Dunn went over for a try which was unconverted as the half ended 14-12 in the visitors' favour.

From the re-start, Bridgwater created chances but, once again, were unable to turn this into points until, after 15 minutes, Ethan Trebble-Westlake latched on to a loose ball and scored an unconverted try.

Chard were reduced to 14 men when Matt Tinley was shown a yellow card and, from the ensuing penalty in front of the posts, Heal extended the Bridgwater lead to 20-14.

The hosts continued to drive forward and Dunn picked up his hat-trick try when he crashed over in the right-hand corner following a line out.

There was no stopping the Bridgwater forwards and, following a driving maul on the left, Dunn scored his fourth try from close range which Heal converted to make it 32-14.

Bridgwater weren’t done yet and their continued pressure was rewarded with a sixth try, this time for Micky Norman from close range as the game ended 37-14.

Bridgwater and Albion- Lewis Phillips, Shaun Mahoney, Joe Bussell, Ali Blundell, Dan Kemmish, Taylor Buller, Ollie Dunn (capt), Micky Norman, James Collins, Stuart Heal, Sam Britton, Luke Plummer, Rob Allen, Oscar Tregenna, Brad Field. Replacements all used: Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Nick Bradley and Adrian Chew.

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Albion head coach Simon Morrell said: “It was an interesting first half when I thought we were exceptional for the first 10 minutes, but then through us playing in a positive way Chard got two freak scores, completely against the run of play.

“In fairness we were also guilty of switching off without the ball in defence, so we were in a hole at half time and could easily have lost the game – in fact, we were probably only one score away from losing the game.

“However, the way the team responded in the second half was superb; the boys went straight back to basics and reacted really well.

“We chased well, we kicked well, and we created wave after wave of pressure.

“We squeezed them at the set piece and points followed and I was really proud of them to be honest.

“The boys really got a grip on the game in the second half and I think that is the best we have been at just doing the basics well and squeaky clean in our self discipline.

“The pack was superb, especially in the second half and completely strangled Chard, so I was really pleased.”

Regarding captain Ollie Dunn’s four tries, the head coach said: “When the chips are down you need someone to lead by example with positive actions on the pitch.

“Ollie didn’t say much at half-time, he just came back out and gave it his all and people just followed him, a sort of chain reaction that followed throughout the team.

“Ollie has been superb all season and every week he is so consistent.”

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Before the match the Friends of Bridgwater & Albion RFC hosted a lunch for 228 members and guests that raised in excess of £2,000, all of which will be ploughed back into the club.

On Saturday, Albion travel to Clevedon who currently occupy fourth place in the table.