Tribute South West One West

Cullompton 22, Bridgwater & Albion 55

BRIDGWATER cast aside the memories of two recent defeats with an eight try demolition of a Cullompton side at the bottom of the league and surely destined for relegation, writes Tony Pomeroy.

There were two tries each for the Australian duo of James Martin and Matt Hastie - the latter demonstrating his skills to his visiting mother - another brace for Rob Allen and one each for Jordan Brodley - a debutant prop whose powerful running caused Cullompton much trouble throughout the game - and replacement Nick Francis.

The boots of Chris Ashwin and Stu Heal did the rest.

Cullompton started the game with the breeze behind them and put Bridgwater under early pressure.

They should have taken the lead after three minutes but home fly-half Matt Garner was well wide with a kickable penalty.

A 50 metre touch kick by Bridgy scrum half, Roger Drabble, gave the visitors field position and when Cullompton were offside in front of their own posts, Ashwin landed the simple penalty.

Cullompton hit back and a good move going right saw Garner make the initial break before handing on the centre Sam Budgett who scored an unconverted try in the corner.

The home side continued to press and Garner increased their lead with an excellent dropped goal from 30 metres.

The ball was then moved right and Martin slipped through the defence for a try in the corner.

Ashwin converted with a magnificent kick into the breeze.

Minutes later, Brodley again made inroads into the Cully defence and again the ball was moved right.

This time Martin put Allen away for a try in the same corner - Ashwin's kick was again straight and true.

The next run was a great break from his own half by Saliarelis that resulted in a penalty for Bridgy.

The kick to the corner was too long but Bridgwater kept up the pressure at the resulting scrum.

They eventually stole the ball, again moved it to the right and Martin wriggled over near the corner for his second try, again converted by Ashwin.

The bonus point arrived on the stroke of half time - Cullompton were penalised for offside in front of their own posts and - as ever - Hastie was first to react.

He took a quick tap penalty himself and hared 20 metre to the line before Cullompton had realised what had happened.

After the break, home number eight, Sam Harris, was sin-binned and almost immediately Hastie scrambled over for his second unconverted try.

Another break from Martin put Allen in for his second try of the afternoon, converted by Ashwin.

Then came Brodley's debut try as he took a short pass at pace and was unstoppable from 20 metre.

In the final minutes concerted Bridgwater pressure saw Francis evade defenders in a narrow space along the touchline before scoring near to the posts, leaving Heal an easy conversion.

The home side had the last word when a good forward drive saw scrum half Nathan Banks driven over for a try converted by Pearce and a final score of 22-55.

Bridgwater will hope to record the double over Forest of Dean side, Drybrook, who make a first ever visit to College Way next Saturday, kick off 3pm.