Tribute South West One West

Bridgwater & Albion 29 Thornbury 20

BRIDGWATER cemented second place in South West One West with a bonus-point victory over fellow high-flyers Thornbury, writes Tony Pomeroy.

Playing with the stiff breeze at their backs, Bridgwater camped in the visiting half, although the visitors had most of the ball as Bridgwater tackled like demons.

Chris Ashwin missed two penalties for the home side, one from half way and then a 30m effort that thumped into a post before giving the home side the lead with a simple penalty following a break by Rob Allen.

Midway through the half, Bridgwater stole a Thornbury defensive lineout and, with some slick passing, moved the ball left, where it reached full-back, James Martin who cruised over unopposed. Ashwin converted with an excellent kick. Thornbury then put Bridgwater under a lot of pressure without managing to break through.

However, when Bridgwater infringed at a tackle, Thornbury narrowed the gap with a simple penalty by fly-half Joe Jackson.

Bridgwater then exerted pressure on the visitors line as Oscar Tregenna was tackled into touch just short of the line as he attempted to finish off an excellent Bridgwater move.

Fine line kicking by Tom Fournier-D'Albe kept up the pressure but Thornbury held out.

The crowd pondered if the half-time score of 10-3 would be enough with Thornbury having the benefit of the elements in the second period.

At the start of the second period, Bridgwater twice kicked direct to touch before another Allen run put the home side on the attack and patient recycling led to Gavin Knight being tackled just short.

However, Luca Ercolani gathered the loose ball and crashed over near the posts for a try converted by Ashwin.

Thornbury then put Bridgwater under tremendous pressure but the home side held out.

As an attack broke down, home centre, Rob Gurnett gathered a loose ball deep in his own 22 and sprinted almost the length of the field, outpacing the covering defence, for a fine individual try under the posts converted by Ashwin.

Midway through the half, a Thornbury fly hack forward from the Bridgwater 22 caused mayhem in the defence and visiting skipper, Liam Pemberton pounced on the ball to score. Jackson's conversion hit the post.

Within minutes, the visitors scored again - a penalty saw Thornbury set up a driving maul which travelled the 20m to the line where number eight, Jack Hussey got the touch-down converted by Jackson.

At 24-15, the game was in the balance - with 10 minutes remaining, an innocuous looking run in midfield by James Martin saw him slip the ball to Gurnett who sprinted 40 metres for a fine unconverted try in the corner that assured Bridgwater of a bonus point.

Thornbury threw everything into attack and scrum-half, Jak Evans saw him outwit the defence as he hared over for an unconverted try, but Albion held on to deny the visitors a losing bonus-point.

Bridgwater face the long journey to Camborne next Saturday before hosting Bideford on December 6 (2.30pm).

Bridgwater Team: James Martin, Oscar Tregenna, Rob Gurnett, Garryn Basson, Rob Allen (Capt), Chris Ashwin, Tom Fournier-D'Albe (rep Scott Franklin 49), James Bryant, Gavin Knight (rep Gabriele Nobili 57), Joe Bussell, Rob Thompson, Dan Kemmish, Nick Spellissy (rep Ethan Trebble-Westlake 49), Luca Ercolani, Taylor Buller

Referee: Martyn Wood (Hertfordshire)