BRIDGWATER’S run of eight successive league victories came to an end with defeat at Bideford, writes Tony Pomeroy.

Albion outscored their opponents by three tries to two, courtesy of Matt Hastie (two) and James Bryant – but the Devon side were just that bit sharper.

Bridgwater kicked off on a beautiful-looking playing surface into a very stiff breeze and had the best of the opening exchanges.

It took over five minutes before the home side got out of their own half but they made their visit pay.

From a scrum around the Bridgwater 22, Bideford moved the ball right and winger James Buckland cut a superb angle to scythe through the defence and score under the posts. Fly-half Ollie Wickett converted easily.

Wickett kicked an excellent penalty across the wind to increase the home lead to 10-0 after only 15 minutes.

Bridgwater then scorned a penalty attempt into the wind and kicked to the corner. Bridgwater won the line-out cleanly and set up a forward drive – and Matt Hastie spotted a gap and dived over the line for a try.

On the half-hour, Bridgwater yet again spurned a possible three points in favour of a kick to touch.

From the line-out, the initial drive was again halted but the ball was recycled a couple of times before Roger Drabble moved it right to Hastie who crossed very close to the touchline giving Heal another impossible conversion attempt.

Bridgwater were happy to be level after half an hour but the final ten minutes of the half belonged to the home side.

Their initial advances were defended stoutly and they had to be content with another Wickett penalty.

With the final move of the half, Bideford moved the ball right from a scrum and it eventually reached Chris Snell, who started at scrum-half but was now operating at full-back, and he burst through for a try at the posts converted by Wickett for a 20-10 half-time score.

The home side continued at the start of the second period as they finished the first. Wickett missed a 30-metre penalty before Bridgwater got their act together.

Twice good scoring chances were lost when the potential scoring passes were dropped but Bridgwater kept up the pressure.

Eventually the referee lost patience with the home defence and issued a yellow card to flanker Simon Bright.

Bridgwater opted for a scrummage but the home side were awarded a relieving penalty.

Tew replaced Joe Bussell, who was carrying a knock, and almost immediately Hastie was over the line again but dropped the ball in the act of scoring.

However, the referee was playing advantage and from the resulting penalty prop James Bryant somehow wriggled over the line in the corner for the third try, again unconverted.

Bridgwater could have scored again but Oscar Tregenna was stopped just short and that turned out to be Bridgwater’s final chance.

Bideford worked their way back into Bridgwater territory and a third Wickett penalty took Bideford eight points ahead at 23-15, thus denying Bridgwater a losing bonus point.

Next week, Wells are the visitors to College Way – kick-off 3pm.