Avonmouth Old Boys 32 Bridgwater & Albion 30
BRIDGWATER met with defeat in a pulsating game in Bristol which saw Avonmouth come away victorious by two points, writes Tony Pomeroy.

The away side were up against it throughout the game as referee, Andy Miller of the Bristol Society, seemed to take a grave dislike to their style of play. 

The home side won the penalty count 13-3 and the free kicks at 2-0 as a series of decisions went against the visitors.

Having expressed concern at the refereeing, it must be said Bridgwater should still have won – and won comfortably. They scored five tries – one more than the home side – and perhaps should have had four more. 

Twice in the first half, Bridgwater players were held up over the Avonmouth line and, in the second half twice more the ball was lost within a couple of metres of the Avonmouth line.
Avonmouth exerted some pressure from the kick-off but, after four minutes, James Brakes broke out of defence to relieve the pressure. 

Bridgwater built their first attack of the day and James Martin combined well with Ollie Dunn who was stopped just short. 

However, the ball popped up to Jervis Manupenu who scored half way out but the conversion attempt was well wide.

After 24 minutes, Bridgwater received a very kickable penalty but opted instead for a five metre lineout. The inevitable driving maul resulted in yet another try for Matt Hastie.

On the stroke of half time Bridgwater, despite being short-handed, regained the lead. A great break by Rob Allen who ran powerfully throughout the game, set up Scott Woolford but although getting over the line, could not ground the ball.

From the resulting scrum, Roger Drabble fed Allen on the blind side and he crashed over in the corner for Bridgwater’s third unconverted try and a half-time score of 10-15.

Heal’s conversion took the score to 13-22 and he then added a rare Bridgwater penalty to increase the lead.

Avonmouth then brought the scores level with a try. From a 5m scrum on their own line, Drabble stole the ball and fed Sluman who took the ball near to halfway only for yet another penalty to Avonmouth.

They continued to hammer at the Bridgwater line but were stifled by a solid defence. 

In the seventh minute of injury time an Avonmouth player was legally tackled short of the line. He then seemed to wriggle along the ground to the line and grounded the ball. 

The referee awarded a try which Wearne converted for Avonmouth to snatch a very unlikely win. 

Albion – James Martin, Oscar Tregenna, Rob Allen, Stu Heal, James Brakes (rep John Hill 39), Jervis Manupenu, Roger Drabble, Scott Woolford (rep James Bryant h/t), Matt Hastie, Joe Bussell, Tayler Buller, Dan Kemmish, Bryan Webb (rep George Sluman 45), Ollie Dunn (capt), Nick Spellissy.

Bridgwater entertain Bideford on Saturday.