South West 1 West
Bridgwater & Albion 36, Hornets 21

BRIDGWATER & Albion produced an excellent performance at College Way on Saturday, and despite difficult conditions they saw off Hornets 36-21, writes Ben Warren.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Wayne Sprangle opened the scoring with a well-constructed try, after which captain Stuart Heal added a penalty.

After 21 minutes, Will Monro carried on his rich vein of form and went over for a try, which was duly converted by Heal.

Eight minutes after that, the visitors struck back with Carter scoring a try to get them on the scoreboard.

Despite Francis scoring another converted try for the visitors, Albion continued to edge the first half and, just before the break, extended their lead further thanks to a penalty try.

This gave the hosts seven more points and a sizeable lead at half time.

With the rain pouring down throughout, Albion’s pack stood up and dominated large portions of the match, and second-half tries by Ryan Barnett and Richard Bright ensured the hosts did not let their lead slip.

The closing stages brought about a Hornets try from Bailey, converted by Humphries, but it proved little more than a consolation.

Albion claimed the victory and five points, keeping them in fifth place in South West 1 West ahead of the Christmas break; their next match is away to Cullompton on Saturday, January 5.

Bridgwater & Albion: Neil Bezuidenhout, Gavin Knight, Craig Blyde, George Musgrave, Dan Kemmish, Ethan Trebble-Westlake, Ollie Dunn, Wayne Sprangle, Tom Fournier D’Able, Stuart Heal, Will Monro, Taylor Buller, Ryan Barnett, Richard Bright, James Collings. Replacements: Matt Ranson, George Sluman, Rob Gurnett.