Tribute South West One West

Drybrook 5 Bridgwater and Albion 13

BRIDGWATER continued their unbeaten start to the season with this very hard-fought victory in the Forest of Dean, writes Tony Pomeroy.

Despite the Bridgwater pack looking very solid in scrums and lineout - it was the home side who dominated possession and territory throughout the half.

Just about the first time Bridgwater exerted pressure, the home side were penalised and Taylor Buller - in the unaccustomed role of goal kicker - landed a superb forty metre penalty after only eight minutes and give Bridgwater a lead they would never relinquish.

Play continued to flow - mainly between the 22's - as both sides strived to break through.

Defences held very firm as attack after attack was either snuffed out or lost through an error.

Approaching half time, Buller doubled Bridgwater's lead with a second penalty this time from 35m to leave the score a tantalising 0-6 at the break.

The second period started with the home side tearing into the visitors as they attempted to hold on to their home record this season.

After a quarter of an hour, Luca Ercolani was guilty of a deliberate knock-on and was sent to the naughty step for ten minutes.

Drybrook piled on the pressure and after laying siege to the Bridgwater line finally managed a try when Mitch Renton was driven over.

Bridgwater lost hooker, Tom Hillman, to a suspected broken ankle before they sealed the game with a good try.

Running the ball from inside their own half, they finally broke through and the ball reached Ali Blundell - a second half replacement for Rob Thompson.

With players outside him screaming for the ball he sold an outrageous dummy and sprinted towards the posts where he just managed to ground the ball as he was tackled - Buller kicked the easy conversion and gain a 13-5 lead for his side.

Despite a valiant attempt by the home side, Bridgwater held out to record a thoroughly deserved win.

Bridgwater Team: John Hill, Oscar Tregenna, Rob Allen, Garryn Basson, James Brakes, Jervis Manupenu, Tom Fournier-D'Albe, Adrian Tew, Tom Hillman, Joe Bussell, Rob Thompson, Dan Kemmish, Luca Ercolani, Ollie Dunn (Capt), Taylor Buller