BRIDGWATER & Albion return to South West 1 West action tomorrow, when they host Newent at College Way (ko 2.30pm), writes Richard Walsh.

Having lost both of their previous two matches, and being without a fixture last weekend, Albion have slipped from second place to seventh in the league table, so will be keen to get back to winning ways.

Currently Albion have 27 points from eight games, while visitors Newent beat Teignmouth 27-6 on their famous sloping pitch in their last match, and are one place below with 24 from the same number of games.

Last season, Newent won both of the encounters between the two sides, triumphing 23-20 in the Forest of Dean in November, before pulling off a 27-25 win in the return in March.

Two weeks ago Bridgwater came close to winning their first ever game at Lydney, going down 10-8 in the end, so the team will be keen to build upon that performance.

A week off will have given the players a chance to regroup and return fresh for another tough encounter against Newent.

And things don’t get any easier for Albion, because next Friday evening (November 16) they travel down the A38 to face near neighbours North Petherton in the local derby.

Tomorrow is Pethy’s turn to have a week off, as is the case for most teams in South West competitions.

The only games taking place, in fact, are Albion’s match with Newent, and Albion’s 2nd XV versus Crewkerne (also at College Way tomorrow).

The hosts are currently second from bottom in Somerset 1, with two wins from six matches, while Crewkerne are one place and two points ahead of them.