South West One (W)

Bridgwater and Albion 24, Newent 15

BRIDGWATER moved up to fourth place in the table after running out the winners at the end of a pulsating match against Newent in the only game played in the division on Saturday, writes Richard Walsh.

Before the start of the match, players and spectators observed a minutes silence to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict.

Bridgwater then kicked off and were on the attack from the start, Stuart Heal slotting home a penalty in the first minute to give his side an early lead.

On 13 minutes Heal extended Bridgwater’s advantage when he kicked a second penalty in front of the posts, awarded for offside.

From the re-start Newent produced a string of moves down the left side before being awarded a scrum close to the try line, but the Bridgwater defence held firm.

The home side then enjoyed a period of pressure, and on 20 minutes the ball was hacked forward over the Newent try line followed by two Bridgwater players but the bounce just eluded them.

Eventually the pressure paid off for the hosts when Ethan Trebble Westlake scored a try near the posts which Heal converted to make the score 13-10.

Newent responded immediately with a try from Charlie Gellert which Tom Webb converted.

The Forest of Dean side continued to attack and, shortly before the interval, Gellert scored his second try which Webb converted which made the score 13-12 at the break.

The visitors came out strongly and five minutes into the second half they took the lead for the first time when Webb kicked a close range penalty awarded for offside.

Bridgwater were reduced to 14 men when Heal was yellow carded for a high tackle, but this disadvantage did not weaken their resolve and following a charge forward by Rob Thompson, who came on as a replacement in the second half, the hosts were awarded a penalty that Kyran Devitt kicked to put his side back in the lead 16-15.

Devitt then found some space in the solid Newent defence and made a jinking run down the right touch line before passing to Adam Greenslade to score a try.

In the final minutes, Thompson made another impressive charge through the middle that was rewarded with a penalty for Bridgwater which Heal kicked to make the final score 24-15.

Bridgwater and Albion: Matt Ranson, Adam Greenslade, Craig Blyde, Dan Kemmish, Ethan Trebble Westlake, Gareth Clwyd-Jones, Jon Roberts, Wayne Sprangle, Tom Fournier d’Able, Stuart heal, Kyran Devitt, James Collings, Rob Gurnett, Ryan Barnett and Will Monro.

Replacements all used: Taylor Buller, Rob Thompson and Lewis Phillips