BRIDGWATER & ALBION v CINDERFORD II
SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2025
KICK-OFF 1400
Match Day Programme
BRIDGWATER & ALBION v CINDERFORD II
SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2025
KICK-OFF 1400
ALBION SEEK TO CONTINUE MUCH IMPROVED FORM AS CINDERFORD ALSO TRY TO SAVE THEIR SEASON
Today we welcome Cinderford II to College Way for their second visit. Our visitors are in a rather strange position of being bottom of the league after excelling in the two seasons at this level to date when in both 2022/23 and 2023/24, they won the league but of course were unable to be promoted due to the status of their 1st XV – which is now at N2 West.
Cinderford first appeared in this league in 2022/23 and were clearly grateful for the opportunity to play regular fixtures and they excelled with a 20-1 record pipping Longlevens – the only team to have beaten them; in 2023/24 they had a 17-2 record and were adjudged winners of WCN after their last two matches v Clifton II and Clevedon were voided as being outside of the league season. Again, they could not be promoted and Longlevens duly went up. During that season, they gave two excellent displays against us winning 66-12 here in October 2023 and 59-0 at St Peters School, Gloucester at the end of January.
With Cinderford 1st XV being relegated from National 1 last season, it appears that the toll of that has been felt by the 2nd XV who have completed the double over Burnham-on-Sea and drawn with Gordon League in their 2-1-11 record and 7 points. They have sadly conceded two matches this season. Last week they went down 17-69 at Nailsea & Backwell and lost at still unbeaten Cleve 0-35 the previous week. With their 1st XV performing confidently in N2W we hope that will buoy the 2nd XV and wish them well on the run in for this season.
This game was postponed on 7 December and at the time, it was considered vital and leading into a period when there may have been the opportunities for some Bridgwater & Albion victories. Indeed, that has happened starting with the home win against Chard just before Christmas; immediately followed by an excellent display in narrow defeat at Old Redcliffians; and then pepped up with two home victories against Burnham-on-Sea 42-22 and last Saturday’s humdinger 48-45 against high riding Old Bristolians. These victories, whilst not improving Albion’s league position, have now put them within a few points of opponents who will be fast on the horizon – Chosen Hill and Gordon League and so today’s match could bring together the confidence from last week’s win and the anticipation of more to come over the next few weeks.
It took a while to quell the enthusiasm of Old Bristolians last Saturday. Typically, they swept to an early lead and just before half time, we actually took the lead but that was soon supplanted by two quick tries from OB before half time. In the second half it was ding dong throughout but OBs did score two tries in succession. This brought about a thrilling end when Albion clawed back the deficit and kept in touch with OBs scores leaving the game delicately poised at 45-45 after 75 minutes. Alas the penalty award turned out to be the last kick of the match and was of course duly successful. Once Albion realised that OBs were struggling without the ball, then the game became much more simple. Early on, many loose kicks and handling errors gave OBs the opportunity to fulfil their running ambitions but once we tightened up matters and took the game to them through our forwards, then we managed to exercise the control at the important times. Clear lessons and easy to see from the touchline and naturally harder to implement on the field. The five points were gratefully accepted and OBs left with two to commend their own contribution to a fine game.
There were good showings from all positions last week with Kyran Devitt’s vital last kick being part of his 18 point haul taking him to 129 points for the season; James Collings crossed for a try on his 99th appearance and will be looking at a notable landmark today; Connor Hull scored a try in his first full game before he went off injured; the rest of the scoring came from the forwards ensured more retained possession, particularly in the vital second half.
From here we now move on to an away match at Taunton II next Saturday and then there is a one week gap until we meet Gordon League here on 15 February and the visit to Chosen Hill is now rescheduled for 22 February. Postponements if anything have given us more consecutive matches from at least one of our XV’s at home running through to the end of February.
UNITED XV BACK IN ACTION
The United XV played their first match of 2025 at Chard II last Saturday and came away with a 39-26 win – a much closer encounter than the home match which was won 82-0 but victories are victories and this enabled us to maintain pressure on league leaders Castle Cary whom we meet here next Saturday. There were many changes to the composition of the side, particularly in the backs but the benefit of the experience up front and from the bench served the side well. Today we visit Somerton going for another double.
DIRTRACKERS DIFFICULT VISIT
Our Dirtrackers were at high riding Martock last Saturday and went down 0-107 – perhaps no surprise as they travelled with 10 players. Alas the buoyant scenes at Burnham and an abundance at players the previous week quickly evaporated. Nevertheless the spirit is not broken and we are on the back pitch against Hornets IV this afternoon.
COLTS FINALLY SEE 2025 ACTION
Our Colts XV also appears for the first time in 2025 against Wiveliscombe last Friday night. They were pipped 14-15 in a close encounter but showed considerable enthusiasm and now look forward to matches against Wells and Taunton in the next few weeks.
. NEXT MATCHES ON THIS GROUND
Saturday 1 February
United XV v Castle Cary Kick-off 1400
Dirtrackers v Minehead II Kick-off 1400
Saturday 8 February
Dirtrackers v Weston-super-Mare III Kick-off 1400
Sunday 9 February
Colts XV v Taunton Kick-off 1400
Saturday 15 February
1st XV v Gordon League Kick-off 1400
Saturday 22 February
United XV v Weston-super-Mare II Kick-off 1400
Sunday 23 February
Women’s XV v Bude Kick-off 1400
The club has received the sad news that John Lewis has recently passed away. John had a relatively short spell with the club after joining from Old Morganians whom he joined upon leaving St Luke’s College, Exeter on taking up a post at Sydenham Secondary School in Bridgwater in 1961 (a school opened in 1960). He played in company with Bob Payne (also later to join B&A) and Bob Hudson (also a school teacher at Sydenham and later B&A Chairman). He immediately impressed and as Bob says “He was a class player and we made sure that we got the ball to him as quickly as possible”. The following season John made his way to Bridgwater & Albion’s Taunton Road ground and for the next two seasons 1962/63 and 1963/64 John’s skilful wing play immediately made him a favourite of the home supporters as he soon showed his paces on the wing and scored some remarkable tries. Such was his impact in the Albion side that he immediately attracted the attentions of Somerset for whom he played in the County Championship. In the 1963/64 season he continued his startling form with both Bridgwater and Somerset where he was selected to play for the Western & Counties XV against the Fifth All Blacks at Bristol. He was accompanied by teammate Bob Collard in the centre with Dave Hodge as reserve. Your scribe recalls visiting the Memorial Ground in Bristol that day as a schoolboy and we arrived just in time to see John dash over for a try in the first 40 seconds of the match. The Counties gave the All Blacks a fright but eventually lost 14-22. In that same season, John –hailing from South Wales – was named for the Welsh Trial at Cardiff on the back of his performances for Albion, Somerset and the Western Counties.
Alas, John suffered a shoulder injury and that season was the last we saw of him as he moved on to enhance his teaching career at both King Alfreds at Highbridge and later Brymore in his capacity as Head of PE - but what memories he left behind in those two seasons.
Bridgwater & Albion sends its sincere condolences to John’s family on their sad loss.
Scribe
