BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC
v CLIFTON WANDERERS RFC
KICK-OFF 2pm Match Programme
SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2024
KICK-OFF 1400 PM
CLIFTON II ON A ROLL AS ALBION SEEK TO RECOVER FROM RUN OF DEFEATS
The rivalry between Bridgwater & Albion and Clifton has been prominent for almost 150 years. Clifton were founded in 1872 and Bridgwater & Albion in 1875 and the clubs have met almost continuously throughout that period including many encounters in the leagues since they were introduced in 1987. Last season, Clifton Wanderers made their first visit to College Way in league terms in being placed in Gloucester Premier in 2021/22 for the first time and where they were runners up; they made sure of promotion in 2022/23 by becoming champions of Counties II Gloucestershire South with a fine 19-2 record. Last season, the Wanderers finished 6th in the league just behind Bridgwater & Albion in 5th. This season, they have turned up the gas and arrive with a 6-2 record with particular significance being thrust on last week’s home win 43-26 against Taunton II who were our visitors here three weeks ago. Prior to that they went down 26-34 at Chosen Hill but also hold good victories 40-28 over Old Redcliffians II and 31-30 at Nailsea & Backwell. They lost earlier in the season 17-22 at home to the league leaders Cleve.
Last season’s encounters saw two close run affairs with Bridgwater & Albion winning 27-22 here in late November; the return match was also subject to a five point margin but this time in favour of Clifton who won 36-31 with Albion picking up two bonus points. Hopefully, we can look forward to further close encounters and wish Clifton well both today and for their next matches.
Bridgwater & Albion with a much changed side, gave signs of considerable improvement in the first half against Gordon League last Saturday. Making their first visit to Hempstead over 30 years, Albion started the game brightly with some promising handling moves involving both backs and forwards. The slight slope on the ground gave a clue as to how the game may go. Albion conceded a penalty try before securing two goals of their own before half-time to take a 147 interval lead but was it enough playing with the elements in the first half? – the answer unfortunately a resounding no, the home side using their experience and knowledge of the pitch in the right places although some of their tries were run in from way out. However, Albion’s heads did not drop and they kept fighting back but could not clinch the vital last pass to score more points. In that game, our versatile lock/back row Tom Hopkins made his 75th 1st XV appearance and will today be awarded with his badge to commemorate the occasion. He and Leigh Parker making his first appearance for two seasons and the other forwards, particularly Karolis Urbonis, certainly gave the home side something to think about in the first half. Rowan Traynor and Charlie Barnes – two of last season’s Colts – also continued to show promise whilst when the ball was running our way and Kyran Devitt was in scintillating form and was unlucky not to add at least one further score to his haul of a try and two conversions.
Next weekend, there is an added fixture with our Webb Ellis Somerset Cup match being played here on Friday 22 November kick-off 1930 – this is against Chew Valley to whom we lost in last year’s semi-final in a rousing game at Gordano. The visitors have had a disappointing season in South West One – still awaiting their first victory. After that, on 30 November it is off to the unbeaten league leaders Cleve at Mangotsfield.
Everyone should be aware of new kick-off time recommendations from RFU. This means that games can start at 1500 up to the end of BST and thereafter kick-off time will be at 1400 – starting last week at Gordon League and of course here today.
UNITED XV BOUNCE BACK
After suffering their first defeat of the season in the top of the table clash at Castle Cary, Bridgwater & Albion United hit back with a fine 26-21 home victory against North Petherton II last season. With a much changed side due to 1st XV calls, the side took a good lead and then held off a strong North Petherton challenge to keep up the pressure on the league leaders. We were due to visit Tor today but due to the logistics of Glastonbury Carnival, this match has been postponed until next Saturday and with the 1st XV Cup match on Friday night, there will be plenty of opportunity for wholesale support at Tor. The team then returns to College Way for the match against Wellington II on 30 November.
DIRTRACKERS RESTING BUT READY FOR ACTION AGAIN
Our Dirtrackers XV after a few weeks’ rest due to the natural break and the fact that they were without a league fixture last Saturday but return on the back pitch today against local rivals Morganians hoping to get their season going again.
WOMENS XV TRIUMPHANT
Our Women’s XV produced two good performances in recent weeks. In the Beth Branson Memorial game, they gave fine display against Wooden Spoon XV winning 42-14 and cemented this with a fine away victory at Bude 38-24 last Sunday. They have further action tomorrow at Okehampton and will be home against Bideford on Sunday 24 November.
COLTS XV
Our Colts XV – having started the season well – were well beaten 6-41 at Chard last Sunday. However, there were some good play and the scoreline may have flattered the home side. The boys will have another hard test at Hornets tomorrow.
NEXT FIXTURES ON THIS GROUND
Friday 22 November
1st XV v Chew Valley Kick-off 1930
(Webb Ellis Somerset Cup)
Sunday 24 November
Women’s XV v Bideford Kick-off 1400
Saturday 30 November
United XV v Wellington II Kick-off 1400
Our battling lock/back-row forward Tom Hopkins made his 75th 1st XV appearance at Gordon League last Saturday in his fifth season with the club.
Tom hails from Cwmbran and is fondly known precisely as that. He came across the water in pursuit of work at Hinkley Point and made his debut as a replacement in the match against Crediton on 28 September 2019 in a 27-22 Albion home victory. Capable of playing both in the second and back rows, Tom’s versatility is a boon to our club’s sides. Always a one hundred percenter, always bustling – he always likes to go forward with the ball. He has been a very consistent performer over these past five seasons. Last season he played in 22 of our 24 matches. He made his 50th appearance against Barton Hill in September 2023 in a 29-0 home victory. He has scored three tries for Albion including one against Chosen Hill this season.
Tom has done the hard work over these first 75 games and has a long career ahead of him to add considerably to this total. He has been an excellent recruit. In the past two seasons we have played Tom’s old club Cwmbran in pre-season friendlies and this summer Tom uniquely played part of the game for each side giving no quarter either way.
HOPKINS 13.03.1997
The Albion team on Tom’s debut in September 2019 was:-
Collings; Barnett Owens Basson Bright; Heal Fournier D’Albe; Sprangle Sluman O Steward Trebble-Westlake Kemmish L Phillips S Mahoney M Ranson.
Replacements: Slorance Hopkins Honey.
Trebble-Westlake (2) Honey and Steward scored tries with Heal kicking a penalty and conversion with Collings adding a conversion.
