Somerset Cup
Yeovil & Sherborne 5, Bridgwater 1

BRIDGWATER men’s 1sts travelled to take on Yeovil & Sherborne in the opening round of the Somerset Cup. 

Their opposition are in the division above, so it was always going to be a stiff challenge. 

So it proved, with the hosts stretching out with three unanswered goals in the first half.

The second half was closer, with the visitors grabbing a goal back through Andy Taylor, but the home team added two more to run out comfortable winners. 

All in all, it was a good workout for Bridgwater ahead of the home match against Chippenham on Saturday (2.15pm start).

GoCrea8 Hockey League West Central 1
Bridgwater A 6, Firebrands 4ths 0

BRIDGWATER 2nd XI picked up a valuable win against Firebrands, scoring six goals without a reply to get the second half of the season off to a flying start. 

Next week might prove to be a stiffer test, in an important game away against Keynsham – two places above them in third position (12.30pm).

In the same division, Bridgwater B visit North Somerset A (1pm).

South East 2
Chard A 8, Bridgwater C 0

THE men’s 4ths suffered a heavy loss at league leaders Chard 2nds.

This coming Saturday, Bridgwater entertain Taunton C.S. A (12.15pm).

South East 3
Sidmouth & Ottery D 3, Bridgwater Mens D 0

THIS week it was clear that Christmas blues may have accounted for several last minute changes, but Noel Smith and Mark Seaward stepped in.

Top-of-the-table Sidmouth & Ottery weathered an early Bridgwater storm and began creating chances.

In what was a back-and-forth game, Sidmouth’s pressure finally told as they went a goal up just two minutes before half time.

They scored again soon after the restart, but that spurred the visitors into life as Ted Kelly and Toby Knight started to dominate the midfield. 

But the opposition were set up for the counter-attack and, with James Kettlewell off the pitch for a few minutes, they pounced to score a third. 

Bridgwater fought until the end but they couldn’t get the elusive goal that they deserved, while Seaward continued to impress with cracking saves.

This weekend they 5ths host Ashmoor C (4pm).

Man of the match: Toby Knight

West Clubs Women’s League Central Division
Taw Valley 2, Bridgwater 3

BRIDGWATER travelled to Barnstaple to face a revived Taw Valley team. 
In the first half, after conceding in the first ten minutes, the visitors’ hard work and persistence resulted an equaliser by Heidi Martin from a short corner, and then Sapphy Reed-Yang scoring after some impressive open play.

The away side claimed a deserved 3-2 win, with their goal coming from a cross from Laura Coles deflected into the net by Reed-Yang. 

Bridgwater host Weston-super-Mare next weekend (10.30am start).
Player of the match: Sapphy Reed-Yang

Sedgemoor Division 2
Bridgwater 2nds 0, Taw Valley 2nds 4

TAW Valley 2nds visited Bridgwater on Saturday, and from the start the hosts used the ball well out wide, with Jenny Hayden-Briffet and Jess Shobbrook linking down the right. 

But they then found themselves on the back foot with Taw Valley attacking in waves and they soon opened the scoring. 

Sue Durkin made some important saves but Taw Valley broke through to score their second goal, and Taw added two more.

Bridgwater face Weston-super-Mare 3rds next Saturday (11.30am).

Player of the match: Sue Durkin

BRIDGWATER youngsters took part in the Under-12 Hockey Festival in Bruton on Sunday.

Bridgwater opened against a strong Cheddar Valley A team, and although Lucas Hobbs and Oliver Mackay linked well, without a goalkeeper it was always going to be difficult and they lost 4-0.

The next match against Yeovil & Sherborne 2nds was a closer affair, but Yeovil grabbed the only goal.

The third game against Chard saw Lucy Bremner and Holly Evans shine in midfield, and Oscar Taylor pulling off some fine saves. 

It was an end-to-end affair which ended 2-0 to Chard. 

The fourth match against a strong Taunton Civil Service saw heroics by Lucas Hobbs as he used his clever stickwork to get into shooting space and went close to netting. 

The 2-0 loss did not do justice to the huge improvement in play.

In the fifth and final game, Bridgwater played Cheddar Valley B and everything clicked, with strong tackles and distribution into space.

They did not score, but they ended with their best performance.