Friendly match
Crewkerne II 32, Blake Bears 21

BLAKE Bears travelled to Crewkerne with a 20-strong squad, with representatives from five Somerset teams invited to wear the Bears' red & black.

Captain Jason Richards was in full voice and Martin Woodford led the pack.

Before the game got under way, the teams lined up for a minute’s silence for friends of the Bears, Wayne and Annabel, who were recently lost, as well as for Remembrance Sunday.

Crewkerne started at a rate of knots and it wasn’t long before Hamish McDermott opened the scoring with a fine try in the corner, soon followed by home captain Liam Bushell going over to make it 10-0.

Bears' opening score came from the set-piece, with the ball spun wide and then the pace and strength of Billy Vernon getting over the line, with Leon Kearle adding the extras.

Skipper Richards followed him over the whitewash, with Kearle converting for a 14-10 advantage.

The home team were then deemed to have put the ball out illegally to bring the game to the half-time break, and Bears made the most of the territory, with Vernon getting his second try and Kearle kicking his side into a 21-10 lead at the break.

Crewkerne had a sense of urgency at the restart, and powerhouse David Turney went over, before a penalty put the hosts right back in the game (21-20).

The home side had the momentum now, and Bushell crashed over between the posts to put them ahead, 27-21.

Crewkerne had the final word when McDermott crossed once again, despite some dogged Bears defence, bringing a great contest to an end.

Crewkerne: M. White, J. Hooker, D. Turney, R. Howard, T. Edwards, M. Nebel, G. Simpson, G. Montague, C. Dunlop, H. McDermott, L. Bushell, N. Padfield, L. Davies, C. Bridgland, N. Conway, R. Ellis, S. O’Siodhachain, R. Cottle, M. Lewis, K. Edwards, J. Kirton.

Blake Bears: J. Richards, N. Berryman, A. Stephens, M. Duffy, P. Sussex, P. Richards, G. Smillie, K. Smillie, J. Grant, M. Woodford, M. Galeitzke, S. Richards, B. Vernon, B. Parmer, A. Huges, L. Kerle, M. Woodford, J. Hayman, A. Perrin, N. Baker.