Bridgwater & Albion 7- Truro 57.

Bridgwater and Albion are still looking for their first win of 2023 after they were beaten by Truro, who were promoted from Western Counties and making their first appearance at College Way since 2004. 

In common with a number of recent games the hosts  enjoyed their fair share of possession and dominated for periods of the game, but were unable to turn that into points, while their opponents made their chances count.

Truro kicked off and within three minutes they opened the scoring when Connor Triggs went over for a try in the left hand corner which Ashley Hosking converted.

Bridgwater came straight back but after working their way deep into the opposition’s territory they conceded a penalty. The hosts came back again this time down the right flank and after winning two penalties both of which were kicked to touch, and gaining the advantage, they conceded another penalty.

Form the following move Truro made considerable ground along the left wing and Dan Head went over for the first of his tries of the afternoon putting the visitors into a 12-0 lead.

In response Bridgwater mounted an attack and worked the ball across their backs well to Tom Croal,  but sadly as soon as he received the ball he fell to the ground and had to be helped off the field.

The hosts kept up the pressure and after half an hour Will Kerry ran through and looked well set to score when he was fouled. Shortly afterwards the same Truro player committed another foul and was shown a red card.

Almost from the restart Bridgwater were rewarded when George Sluman crashed over from close range in the right hand corner.

Truro may have been down to 14 players but kept attacking at every opportunity and after 43 minutes of play Josh Anderson made a run down the left and scored a try which Hosking converted.

From the kick off Head crossed for another try which Hosking added the extras to before the half time whistle went with Truro ahead 26-5.

Bridgwater started the second half strongly and spent the first period of play after the re-start deep in Truro territory, but try as they may were unable to cross the try line. Eventually however it was the visitors who added to their score when after 55 minutes Head scored another which Hosking converted.

Shortly after Ieuan Boon gathered a loose ball inside his own half and ran diagonally to the left hand corner to score try which made the score 38-5.

Truro were reduced to 13 when they had a player yellow carded but they seemed to be able to hold their own despite this and extended their lead when Harry Clemo went over for a try which Hosking again converted.

Bridgwater found themselves reduced to 14 when Taylor Buller was yellow carded and in the dying minutes Truro ran in two further tries, the first by Head and other by skipper Luke Tidball , one of which Hosking converted before the final whistle went with the score 57-7 to the visitors.

Bridgwater have two league matches remaining the first of which is away at Wadebridge Camels on Saturday 4th March before the final game a week later against Wellington at home.

Bridgwater and Albion- Adrian Tew, Gavin Knight, James Palmer, Tom West, Tom Hopkins, Josh Parker, George Sluman (captain), Jordan Buller, Jordan Buller, Roger Drabble. Jay Owens, Tom Croal,  Taylor Buller (vice capt), Lewis Plece, Dan Lang and Will Kerry.

Replacements all used- Rory Hobbs Will Ryan and Ollie Phillips.