Bridgwater & Albion II 19, Clevedon II 21

A SPIRITED display from Bridgwater & Albion II was not enough to prevent them slipping to a narrow two-point defeat at the hands of league leaders Clevedon.

Bridgwater started strongly in attack and defence, with large parts of the game played in the Clevedon half.

On the ten minute mark, Ranson burrowed his way over for the first try after some good forward work.

Pippard added the extras with a good kick - and Albion soon added a second as Ward jinked his way over following good work from Sturdy.

Clevedon responded with two unconverted tries and a penalty to take a 13-12 lead - the first of which saw winger Burns, who was later sin-binned for dissent, ghost around the outside to score in the corner.

Clevedon then scored a further penalty to extend their lead to 16-12, but Bridgwater then pulled themselves together to get back into the Clevedon half, earning themselves a penalty.

Pippard sent the ball to touch and from the lineout, Bridgy set the drive and Ranson flopped over the line for his second of the afternoon, to regain the lead.

Pippard again converted to extend the lead to 19-16 with seven minutes remaining.

Almost immediately, Clevedon hit back with another try courtesy of a neat finish - and this proved to be the winning score as Blundell's powerful run into Clevedon territory resulted in the ball being kicked out to bring a close to a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby.