Match report: Weston Super Mare 30, Bridgwater & Albion 1st XV 8 (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Match report: Weston Super Mare 30, Bridgwater & Albion 1st XV 8

8:00am Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Bridgwater & Albion News By Tony Pomeroy

IN the first minutes of the game both sides played the expansive game looking for a quick score but it was the home side first on the scoreboard when, following a Bridgwater infringement at a tackle, home centre James MacKay kicked a routine 23m penalty.

Bridgwater hit back and patient recycling of the ball following an attacking lineout saw second row, Rob Thompson, crash over the line with a number of defenders hanging on. Surprisingly, Sam Osborne was unable to convert.

A Bridgwater scrum feed on half way was stolen by the home side for winger James Arnold to score in the corner, with Mackay adding the extras.

Weston wasted a glorious opportunity to increase their lead when Bridgwater lost possession in the home half as Bridgwater continued to gift Weston possession of the ball.

They were almost rewarded themselves when Kyle Giblett only just failed to secure an attempted interception.

As the half drew to a close, fly half Mal Roberts missed a 35m penalty and then Weston again crossed the Bridgwater line but could not ground the ball.

Bridgwater, under severe pressure, conceded a number of penalties and Matt Hastie was sin-binned for persistent infringement as Weston took a 20-5 lead at half-time.

Ali Blundell was also sin-binned but despite being shorthanded, Bridgwater put together a couple of good pieces of play and received some reward with a 27m penalty by Osborne.

Haydn Johnson then replaced Matt Hastie, with Ollie Dunn moving up to hooker and Ashley Pippard came on for the injured Rob Allen.

Weston's third try came from a break-away before Weston achieved their bonus point with their fourth try minutes later to round off a disappointing game for Bridgwater.

Next week, the team take on fellow table-propping side Oxford Harlequins.

Bridgwater Team: Sam Osborne, Nick Francis, Rob Allen (rep Ashley Pippard 62), Matt House, Kyle Giblett, Dominik Griffin, Roger Drabble, James Bryant, Matt Hastie (rep Haydn Johnson 62), Joe Bussell (rep Tom Smith 71), Ali Blundell, Rob Thompson, Nick Spellissy, Ollie Dunn, Dan Kemmish