Tribute South West One West

Bridgwater & Albion 43 Cullompton 12

BRIDGWATER & Albion climbed to fourth place in South West One West with a commanding bonus point victory over Cullompton in their first ever league win against the Devon side, writes Tony Pomeroy.

Albion ran in seven tries courtesy of Ollie Dunn (2), James Martin, Jervis Manupenu, Joe Bussell, Oscar Tregenna and Stuart Heal, while Heal added four conversions.

Cullompton belied their league status with a powerful start which saw them take the lead with a try by full-back Tom Elliott, converted by fly half Adam Pearce.

Bridgwater began exerting pressure and were rewarded when skipper Dunn was driven over as part of a driving maul.

Heal converted with a good kick, but missed a long range penalty attempt a few minutes later.

On half an hour, Nick Spellissy drove powerfully from the back of a scrum before linking with full back Martin, who crashed over for the second try, again converted by Heal.

The third try arrived on the stroke of half time – Bridgwater took a scrum against the head and Manupenu wriggled through the defence for an unconverted try to leave the score 19-7.

At half-time Bridgwater gave a debut to centre Chris Ashwin, a former Bristol player, in place of Garryn Basson.

The bonus point touchdown was not long coming after a period of home pressure when prop Joe Bussell was driven over for an unconverted try.

Bridgwater woke again in the final quarter and a loose Cullompton kick out of defence was gathered by Matt Hastie before reaching winger Tregenna, who burst through three defenders for the fifth try, again converted by Heal.

Straight from the kick-off, Spellissy surged forward in a 50m break for the home side and eventually skipper Dunn got his second try with a surge from a 5m lineout. The conversion was wide.

Cullompton did not lie down, though, and when Bridgwater lost the ball in the opposition 22 it was hacked downfield and winger James Shere scored an unconverted consolation try.

Bridgwater had the last word as Manupenu put in an exquisite chip to the posts and Heal dived on the ball for try number seven, which he also converted.

Next week Bridgwater visit Drybrook in the Forest of Dean, who are currently five points below Bridgwater in the league.

Scorers: Albion – tries from Dunn (2), Martin, Manupenu, Bussell, Tregenna and Heal, conversions from Heal (4); Cullompton – tries from Elliott and Shere, conversions from Pearce.

Albion: Martin, Francis, Basson (rep Ashwin h/t), Heal, Tregenna, Manupenu, Drabble, Bryant, Hastie, Bussell (rep Scott Woolford 67), Blundell (rep George Sluman 62), Kemmish, Buller, Dunn (cap), Spellissy.

Referee: Brian Perry (Somerset).