By Tony Pomeroy Bridgwater skipper, Steve Hunt, who captained Cleve two seasons ago, was a relieved man at the end of this game. Cleve will consider themselves very unlucky to have lost a game in which they had so much possession and territorial advantage.

Much of the game was eminently forgettable as pick and drive after a tackle predominated.

The game itself was not helped as a spectacle by heavy morning rain and then a deluge mid way through the first half. Both sides were guilty of too much seemingly aimless kicking, which almost always was dealt with admirably by the defences.

The visitors started brightly. An early George Williams penalty to the corner brought an attacking lineout. The ball was cleanly won and quickly moved back to hooker, Matt Hastie, who scored yet again in the corner. Willams' conversion attempt from the touchline shaved the post.

If the travelling Bridgwater supporters - who once again seemed to outnumber the home support - thought that this start would herald a rout, then they were reading a different script to the Cleve players.

This reverse, strangely enough, encouraged the home side who took the game to the visitors. However, their cause was not helped by the sin-binning of second row Lewis Hillier for a technical infringement. Cleve continued to attack but it was the visitors who scored next.

A promising Cleve move broke down in the rain, George Williams gathered the loose ball and kicked downfield and Bridgwater full back, Will Topps, won the race to the touchdown and gave Williams a relatively easy conversion.

Bridgwater's Carl Brown was binned for a technical offence just before Cleve thought they had scored. Following a good break by centre Steve Bath, the ball was touched down over the line - but with an illegal third placing from the ball carrier. Bridgwater picked up the ball and cleared their lines as home No 8, Fraser Clilverd, was binned for dissent. The visitors led 12-0 at half time.

The second half started with a good break by home scrum half Josh Mortimore that led to a penalty, missed by Joe Hall. Topps, Jack Kohler and Sam Osborne combined well for one Bridgwater attack and then Osborne put in a superb 45m touch-finder. With the Cleve defence hovering close to the offside line, Bridgwater could not score.

Cleve returned to the attack and after a period of concerted pressure, prop Olly Coles crashed over near the posts leaving Hall a simple conversion.

Williams increased Bridgwater's lead with a 30m penalty before the very experienced home full back, Ben Breeze, set up another attack with an excellent chip and chase. Cleve continued to pound at the visitors line and were rewarded with a second try for Olly Coles in the corner. The conversion was too much for Hall.

With only minutes remaining, Cleve continued to batter the visitors' line but the Bridgwater defence held out for a narrow and perhaps lucky victory.

The Bridgwater pack seemed under pressure at many scrums although Matt Hastie did manage to steal one 'against the head' despite some very crooked feeding by the home scrum half. Lines-out were generally even but Bridgwater did not always contest the Cleve throw ins.

The backs ran well when they had the ball - which was not often. Williams unfortunately had something of an off day with the boot, missing touch with too many penalty kicks.

Bridgwater gave a debut to Joe Sluman at flanker when he replaced Rob Burnell in the second half.

It is perhaps a measure of how far the team has come when they play as poorly as this and still win.

Games like this prove that there are going to be no easy games for Bridgwater in this league as Cleve did not play like a side at the bottom of the league without a win. Next week, Bridgwater host Coney Hill who are just one place above Cleve in the league with one win to their credit. However, they lost 21-0 at home to Bournmouth last Saturday. Bridgwater will be looking for a five-point win and a boost to their points difference.