BRIDGWATER and Albion took a break from league action on Saturday and travelled to play against Western Counties side Winscombe in the Somerset Cup.

It was a hard fought game but Albion came out on top by one point in a 27-28 win.

The young Albion side that included several players making their senior debut got off to a good start and after five minutes Jon Hill and Oskar White combined well to earn a penalty which the latter kicked.

The Western Counties side came back strongly and shortly afterwards a Dursley penalty levelled the scores.

The next period of play was very even with both sides running the ball well and playing open rugby. However on 26th minutes an Albion penalty resulted in Hill scoring a try which White converted.

The visitors maintained the pressure and two minutes later White broke from 35 metres to score a try, that was unconverted.

Despite being 15-3 down Winscombe bounced back strongly and after 33 minutes the hosts reduced the arrears when Rutherford scored a try which Dursley converted.

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Just before half time Dursley kicked another penalty for Winscombe and then almost on the whistle White slotted one home for the Albion making the score 13-18 at the break.

Winscombe started the second half forcefully and were straight onto the attack, but despite the pressure the visitors defence held firm and eight minutes after the re-start a 30 metre break by White resulted in winger Ross Mark to score a try on his debut which White converted.

Again Winscombe regrouped and came back in the attack and on the hour flanker Oscar Brown scored a try which Dursley added the extras to.

Four minutes later a battling George Sluman won a penalty that White kicked which made the score 20-28 with a quarter of an hour remaining.

The hosts were far from done and a second try from Rutherford that was converted by Dursley brought them to within one point of the Albion.

The last passages of play saw Winscombe pressing hard to find the victory but the visitors defended well and held on to secure a narrow but deserved victory.

Next week league rugby returns with the first team at home to Sidmouth RFC, kick off will be at 3pm.

The match will be preceded by the Friends of Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club autumn lunch.