South West 1 West
Bridgwater & Albion 26, Keynsham 3

BRIDGWATER & Albion have moved up to third place in the table after notching up their sixth successive victory, running in four tries to beat a combative Keynsham side on a wet and windy afternoon, writes Richard Walsh.

The hosts took the lead after four minutes at College Way, as Kyran Devitt slotted over a penalty from just inside the Keynsham half.

But Albion's lead was short lived, as soon afterwards visiting full-back Sam Challenger kicked a penalty to level the scores.

After 16 minutes the home side regained the lead when Rob Thompson, making his 100th first team appearance, crashed over after pressure on the Keynsham try-line.

On 20 minutes a kick from deep inside the Bridgwater half found touch close to the Keynsham line, and following the lineout the ball was moved along the backs until Ryan Barnett went over to score a try to the left of the posts.

The hosts continued to create pressure, and five minutes later Will Monro took advantage of a handling error, collecting the ball and going over for a third try.

Despite trailing 18-3, Keynsham kept coming forward, but the home defence held firm and denied them a scoring opportunity.

Just before half time a Keynsham clearance from inside their own 22 was charged down; the ball was gathered by another of their players, but their clearance was also charged down by Tom Fournier D’Able, who chased the ball and touched it down to make the score 23-3 at the half-time break.

Keynsham came out strongly and applied pressure to the Albion defence, but despite their best efforts they couldn’t cross the home try-line.

And with 12 minutes left the hosts were awarded a penalty just outside the 22m line, Rob Gurnett stepping up to score, which left the visitors needing three converted tries for victory.

In the event there was no further scoring, Albion running out 26-3 winners.

Bridgwater & Albion: Neill Bezuidenhout, Adam Greenslade, Craig Blyde, Rob Thompson, Dan Kemmish, Gareth Clywyd-Jones, Harvey Derby, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Tom Fournier D’Able, James Collings, Will Monro, Rob Gurnett (c), Ryan Barnett, Kyran Devitt, Richard Bright. Replacements (all used): Matt Ranson, George Musgrave, Jay Owens.

Albion are without a match this coming weekend; the following Saturday, February 9, sees them travel to second-placed Launceston.