Bridgwater and Albion 0 Wadebridge Camels 38

Bridgwater and Albion were left empty handed at the end of a tough encounter against a strong Cornish side who took full advantage of the conditions in the first half and never really looked threatened.

With the floodlights on from the kick off, Wadebridge started the game with the strong wind that was blowing down the length of the pitch in their favour and it wasn’t very long before they were exploiting this to the full.

After five minutes a line out five metres from touch resulted in Matt Ballard going over for the first of his four tries to the right hand of the posts which was converted by Danny Thomas.

Bridgwater held their own for the next quarter of an hour but rarely managed to get into Wadebridge territory and on the odd occasion they did were penalised.

On 20 minutes Wadebridge were awarded a penalty what was kicked to touch from which a driving maul saw Ballard score his second try that Thomas again added the extras to.

The home side defended well but the visitors just kept driving forward and just after half an hour another penalty to touch close to touch produced a third try for Ballard which Thomas converted.

With the clock ticking towards half time Wadebridge kicked to the left corner and from line out they rumbled over the line and Ballard went over for his fourth try, which Thomas converted making the score 28-0 to Wadebridge at the break.

From the re-start Bridgwater were reduced to 14 players when James Collinges was carded for an infringement which occurred as he tried to catch the ball from the kick off.

Wadebridge took full advantage of their extra player and two minutes later Ben Humber went over in the left hand corner for an unconverted try.

After 20 minutes of the second half Bridgwater had one of the best chances  when they seized on a loose ball and ran it down to the right hand corner where they won a line out- but the chance was cleared. 

The hosts tried hard to break through the Wadebridge defence but on each occasion they were unsuccessful. A scrappy period of play followed during which Jack Perry was yellow carded and soon after Kyle Gratrix scored an unconverted try making the score 38-0 to the visitors.

In the closing stages of the game there was a further yellow card for the hosts when Karolis Urbonas was sent to the sin bin, but despite this Bridgwater kept coming forward searching for a score.

Almost on the final whistle the home side were awarded a penalty deep into Wadebridge territory but the opportunity came to nothing in the end and there was no further score.

On this occasion Bridgwater were beaten by a stronger and slicker side who adapted better to the windy playing conditions. 

Before the start of the game the Friends of Bridgwater and Albion RFC held a lunch that was attended by almost 90 people during which director of rugby Geoff Sluman, head coach Carl Rimmer and team skipper George Sluman talked to those present abut the season. Each of them also highlighted how important the fund raising that the Friends carry out  was in enabling the club to develop policies that would benefit the long term future of the club.

Bridgwater and Albion are at home again on Friday evening when they host Chard at College Way with a 7.30pm kick off and the bar opening at 6.30pm. On Saturday Chard who are third from the bottom of the table lost at home to Truro.

Bridgwater and Albion - Cam Modley, Jordan Buller, Graham Slorance, Leigh Parker, Tom Hopkins, Jack Perry, George Sluman (capt), Taylor Buller (vice capt), Roger Drabble, Tom Steer, Danny Mahoney, Jay Owens, Lewis Plece, Will Kerry and James Collinges,

Replacements all used - Mike Saunders, Karolis Urbonas and Josh Parker.