Henley Hawks 24, Bridgwater and Albion 12 (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Henley Hawks 24, Bridgwater and Albion 12

4:00pm Sunday 15th November 2009

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By Tony Pomeroy BRIDGWATER, in their first match under acting head coach Nick Hill, dominated territorially but once again failed to turn pressure into points as they slipped to another defeat.

The game was ruined by the gale force cross wind that made passing and kicking a lottery and by a heavy rainstorm at kick-off.

Bridgwater started strongly and a great break by Matt Richards almost brought a try but the Henley defence held out. Another case of - if only!

Bridgwater continued to attack without looking dangerous and it was Henley who got a try by Pete Davies after good work by Neil Baggett. Fulton converted.

Henley then came into the game territorially and following a series of penalties and scrums in the Bridgwater 22, scrum half Jack Shaylor wriggled clear of an attempted tackle and scored near the posts. Fulton again converted.

Bridgwater had a chance but Liam Chennells pulled a 40m penalty just wide to leave Bridgwater with a mountain to climb at 14-0 at half time.

For a change, Bridgwater won the second half as they once again dominated much of the period territorially.

Good work by Greg Charlton led to a try for centre James Stark. Liam Chennells' conversion attempt from wide out hit the post.

Henley made the game safe with a try from Will Jones converted from the touchline by replacement James Combden.

Bridgwater had the last word with a good individual try by scrum half, Matt Britton, converted by Chennells, but another score for the elusive losing bonus point would just not come.

Despite another defeat, Bridgwater will have gained heart from the performance and hope to take it on to the home game with Worthing in two weeks in a must win match.

The players are all behind their acting head coach and will hope that a large crowd act as their sixteenth man in their remaining home games.

Next week's Somerset Blackthorn Cup match will not now be played. Opponents, Walcot have withdrawn from the competition giving Bridgwater a bye to the next round on the weekend of January 2/3.

They are now an uncomfortable six points adrift at the bottom of the league and a massive twelve points adrift of safety. However, with almost two thirds of the season still to go, if they can begin to take their chances, the team will surely climb the table.

Bridgwater Team

Liam Chennells, Sam Showering (rep Stuart Evans 56), Mike Mangeolles (rep Carl Brown 62), James Stark, Ieuan Coombes (rep Matt Cross 70), Matt Richards, Matt Britton (Capt), James Bryant (rep Phil Triggoll 66), Adam Bellamy, George Davis, Steve Hunt, Dan Collier, Dan Kemmish, Jamie Rudkin, Greg Charlton

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