BRIDGWATER & Albion were without a game at the weekend, a break that gave head coach Simon Morrell time to reflect on where the team are after the four games in South West 1 (West) since Christmas, writes Richard Walsh.

Albion have won two of those, beating Newent at home 20-15 and Teignmouth away 40-22, and lost the other two, the first 27-23 at North Petherton and then 35-17 at home to Okehampton.

Morrell said: “Since the turn of the year, as a result of a few injuries and non availability, we have had a good look at the number of the boys in the extended group and in the game at Teignmouth we got more of the sort of commitment that we want on the pitch.

“It wasn’t hard to see and certainly no surprise to me that we raised our game to another level down at Teignmouth and got the result we deserved.”

That resounding win on the road followed what was Albion’s poorest result so far, against Okehampton.

“Of course it was a disappointing performance, but Okehampton have been probably the strongest team that we have faced since Christmas.

“In that game we were slightly stretched resources-wise, and the dynamics of the group and the balance of the team wasn’t quite right.

“As a team we are pretty keen now, and while a lot of teams will be suffering from a bit of fatigue and looking forward to the off season, we are keen to pick a stable side and see what we can do.

“Compared to where we were last year when we only won four games from Christmas to the end of the season, we’ve already won two, but we’re still not happy.

“We are going to knuckle down and go the distance again next weekend against Thornbury, who will be another tough team, and see where we end up.

“We are nicely poised now with Nick Spellissy back and having also added Harry Collins into that pack gives us the physicality that we have been missing in the set pieces.

"It only takes two or three boys coming in to make a significant difference.

Talking about the two new signings who appeared for the Albion at Teignmouth, the head coach said: “Paul Ash-Smith has been around locally for a little while and has played for both Wellington and Taunton.

“His availability will be a little bit mixed because of his work, but to be able to bring in a prop forward with his kind of experience is great because it provides the opportunity to rest people.

"Paul will do a really good job for us when he is available to play.

“Harry Collins is an exceptional player and will do a really good job for us in helping to develop Shaun Mahoney.

"He has previously played for Hartpury College and England Students and is currently in the Royal Marines locally so will play when he can - getting him here is a big result for us.”

Albion will be without Taylor Buller, who played impressively at Teignmouth, because he is away skiing, but both Collins and Smith are expected to be in the squad for this weekend’s home game against third placed Thornbury (ko 2.15pm).

Bridgwater & Albion invite all former players to come and cheer the boys on (free passes for them on the gate) and stay behind to watch England play Wales in the Six Nations on the big screen afterwards.

Former Albion player Bob Payne, who is heavily involved in the Friends of Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club organisation and who makes the announcements on matchdays over the loudspeakers, is particularly looking forward to the Thornbury game because he played for the South Gloucestershire side in their first season - 1963!