South West 1 (West)

Newest 9, Bridgwater & Albion 22

BRIDGWATER & Albion notched up their fifth victory of the season when they beat basement club Newent for the first time on their own pitch, writes Richard Walsh.

Playing up the slope Bridgwater had the better of the opening exchanges but were unable to turn that pressure into points on the board.

Newent suffered an early setback when their number eight went off injured, but it was the home side who forged ahead through two Tom Webb penalties.

Bridgwater continued to produce a number of attacking moves but were unable to score any points.

On half an hour, the visitors were reduced to 14 men when Richard Bright was shown a yellow card, soon after which Webb kicked his third penalty to extend the hosts' lead.

Almost on the stroke of half time, Albion got themselves on the board when Tom Fournier, who took on the kicking duties from the absent Stuart Heal, slotted home a penalty to make the score 9-3 to Newent at the break.

Bridgwater came out strongly after the interval and, following good work involving Dylan Evans and Will Monro, they were awarded a five-metre scrum from which the returning Wayne Sprangle crashed over for near the posts for a try which Fournier converted.

On the hour, Tom Hopkins helped win a line out on the Newent 22 from which Shaun Mahoney drove forward before laying the ball off to Sprangle, who went over for his second try, which was not converted.

Newent responded and came back on the attack but the Bridgwater defence held firm and resisted well.

On 68 minutes, Bridgwater used the short side well and Bright kicked ahead and won the race to the ball to score a try which Fournier converted.

Mahoney was yellow carded in the dying minutes and, despite the best efforts of both sides, there was no further score as Albion closed out a 22-9 win.

Bridgwater & Albion: Richard Bright, Will Monro, Ryan Barnett, Simon Honey, Dylan Evans, Tom Fournier, Roger Drabble, Ethan Trebble- Westlake, George Sluman, Eoghan Westhoff, Tom Hopkins, Wayne Sprangle, Graham Slorrance, Sam Adcock and Lewis Phillips. Replacements (all used): Tim Blade, Shaun Mahoney and Kyran Devitt.

On Friday evening, North Petherton were beaten 23-19 at home by Sidmouth.

Sidmouth struck first through winger Luke Wells-Burr but Pethy responded well, with two converted tries giving the home side a 14-10 lead at the break.

Two penalties after the break edged Sidmouth in front before the East Devon side scored the crucial next try to open up a 23-14 lead.

Pethy scored with the final play but it was too little, too late.