South West 1 West
Bridgwater & Albion 14, Devonport Services 7

BRIDGWATER & Albion scored their only try of the match in the dying minutes of this hard-fought encounter, to seal a deserved victory over a tough Devonport Services side on Saturday, writes Richard Walsh.

The visitors kicked off and looked threatening from the start, and after a period of pressure they took the lead on 13 minutes, when Joe Semple crashed over to score a try following a series of scrums close to the line; Richard West converted.

Five minutes later the home side were reduced to 14 players when Bryan Webb was yellow carded for a high tackle.

Despite being one man down, Albion kept looking to come forward, but they were repelled by a Services defence that played well throughout the match.

But on 33 minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty just inside the Services half, which Stuart Heal slotted home, making the score 7-3 at the break.

Bridgwater came out strongly after the interval and were quickly camped down by Services try-line, but despite their best efforts the visitors held firm.

On 51 minutes, Albion were eventually rewarded with a penalty which Heal kicked to take the home side to within one point of Services.

With 10 minutes remaining the visitors had Andrew Pond sent to the sin bin, shortly after which Heal kicked another penalty to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the game.

Bridgwater saved their best move until the end, the ball being moved across the backs and out wide to the right, where it found fleet-footed Kyran Devitt, who ran down the touchline to score a deserved try, to seal a 14-7 win.

Bridgwater & Albion: Matt Ranson, Gavin Knight, Craig Blyde, George Musgrave, Dan Kemmish, Bryan Webb, George Sluman, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Tom Fournier d’Able, Stuart Heal (c), Kyran Devitt, Rob Gurnett, Ryan Barnett, Will Monro, James Collings.
Replacements (all used): Martin Keywood, Gareth Clwyd-Jones, Richard Bright.

Fifth in the South West 1 West table and just two points off third, Albion travel to basement club Coney Hill – without a league win all season – this coming Saturday.