South West 1 West

Wadebridge Camels 27, Bridgwater & Albion 21

A DETERMINED second half performance from Bridgwater & Albion was not quite enough to see off the threat of fifth-placed side Wadebridge Camels, writes Tony Pomeroy.

Changes to the side included Ashley Honeywell making his debut at centre, Rob Allen, Nick Francis and Matt House returning after injury and Rob Thompson was absent.

In the first half, the home side were dominant on the muddy pitch.

Wadebridge had so much of the play that it was fully half an hour before the visitors entered the home 22.

During that time, Wadebridge threw the ball about with abandon but could not break a solid Bridgwater defence. The home side had to be content with two penalties from their excellent fly-half, Josh Taylor.

Bridgwater could have scored in their first attack but a solid driving maul that went from the home 22 to the five metre line eventually came to nothing. Wadebridge broke away and, following a period of sustained pressure on the Bridgwater line, home skipper Sam Stone got the first try on the stroke of half time.

Taylor’s conversion gave the Camels a well-deserved 13-0 half-time lead.

Bridgwater started the second half positively and a chip by replacement hooker Matt Hastie was fumbled by the home defence and, after a misdemeanour at the scrimmage, Will Kerry kicked the resulting penalty to make it 13-3.

Wadebridge restored their 13-point advantage with a penalty of their own before Roger Drabble suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced.

The home side scored a try to extend their lead but this spurred life into Bridgwater and they scored through Christian Preece, a try converted by Kerry.

Wadebridge played the final ten minutes a man short when replacement Ben Scott was yellowcarded and Albion capitalised.

Nick Francis narrowed the gap with a try converted by Kerry but they were thwarted by the final whistle.

Team: Will Kerry, Matt House, Rob Allen, Ashley Honeywell, James Kerry, Dominik Griffin, Nick Francis, James Bryant, Ollie Dunn, Christian Preece, Dan Kemmish (Capt), Matt Northey, Tom King, Mitch Windsor, Nick Spellissy.

Replacements All Used: Matt Hastie, Doug PageSymonds, Roger Drabble.

l Bridgwater are at home to Sidmouth on Saturday in a game kicking off at 3pm and they will be hoping to build on this performance and get revenge for the defeat suffered at the seaside earlier in the season.