South West One (West)
Bridgwater & Albion 20, Drybrook 17

BRIDGWATER & Albion notched up their sixth victory of the campaign and will take a lot of confidence from this result given they were without four first team regulars and had several players out of position.

These absences, if anything, seemed to make the side more determined than ever as Bridgwater fought until the end and eventually gained the victory they deserved.

After early Drybrook pressure, Bridgwater countered well and spent most of the first 20 minutes in their opponents' half, during which both James Collings and skipper Ollie Dunn made good breaks, but were unable to find the line.

In the 25th minute, Bridgwater eventually took the lead when a good run saw Taylor Buller pick the ball up on the right wing and score a try behind the posts that Stuart Heal converted.

The home side's lead was short-lived as, two minutes later, Drybrook levelled when Glen Nott latched on to a high ball deep into Bridgwater territory that should have been cleared, and scored a try on the left, which Tom Treherne converted.

In the 38th minute, Drybrook were reduced to 14 men when Mitch Bourne was dismissed for foul play.

However, being a man down didn’t seem to bother the Forest of Dean side who took the lead thanks to a Treherne penalty shortly afterwards.

On the stroke of half-time, Bridgwater levelled the scores when Heal slotted home a penalty, making it 10-10 at the break.

The home side came out strongly and were unlucky not to score early on following a dazzling run by captain Dunn; however, they took the lead three minutes later when Heal kicked another penalty.

The hosts continued to press forward and created several opportunities but were unable to cross the Drybrook line.

The visitors may have been a man down but continued to be a threat and, after 32 minutes of the second half, were awarded a penalty try after Garryn Basson was yellow carded for what was adjudged by the referee to be a deliberate knock-on, which Treherne converted, to put the visitors ahead 17-13.

With the minutes ticking away, Bridgwater camped in the visitors' half and, with one minute of normal time remaining, they appeared to have scored a try, only for it to be disallowed because it had been held up.

Bridgwater kept up their fight until the end and, in the dying seconds, got their just desserts when Oscar Tregenna went over for a try on the left which Heal converted to make the final score 20-17.

Albion - Lewis Phillips, Shaun Mahoney, Joe Bussell, Ali Blundell, Dan Kemmish, James McLauchlan, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Micky Norman, Roger Drabble, Stuart Heal, Oscar Tregenna, Ollie Dunn (capt) Taylor Buller, Garryn Basson and James Collings. Reps (all used) - Kyran Devitt, Adrian Tew, George Sluman.

On Saturday, Bridgwater & Albion make the trip to Midsomer Norton, who are having a tough time of it this season.