Bridgwater and Albion RFC v Keynsham RFC Match Day Programme Saturday 22nd January 2022

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC v KEYNSHAM RFC SATURDAY 22nd JANUARY 2022 KO 3PM

Match Sponsor ‘Dirtrackers’ In Memory of Dave Norman

KEYNSHAM COME SEEKING CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE BUT WILL AWAY FORM ALLOW THAT ON POIGNANT ALBION MEMORIAL DAY We welcome our friends and rivals Keynsham to College Way today and they will join a considerable number of former Dirtrackers who are gathering as sponsors to celebrate the rugby football life of our late lamented friend and colleague David Norman.

In the 2019/20 season Keynsham completed the double over Bridgwater & Albion winning 22-7 at Crown Field and a more remarkable 27-0 here in February 2020. Earlier this season at Crown Field Keynsham won 25-20 with Albion showing signs of getting back on the road after a difficult start but conceding points at the wrong times.

Keynsham have battled their way up and down the league structure since inception in 1987 and the clubs have been playing each other in this form since 2000 in what is now known as South West Premier (Level 5). Keynsham found themselves as far back as Somerset Premier but bounced back through Western Counties North and won promotion again to this league at the end of the 2016/17 season. Albion had the upper hand in the results in the first two seasons at South West One West but Keynsham completed the double last time out and are a game in hand this time. This season they arrive with a 6-7 record and 31 points, sitting in 7 th spot in a league table which is now becoming a split into top and bottom and sadly both Keynsham and ourselves are in the latter category. They have won 5 of their 7 home matches with a notable 13-5 victory against St Austell just before Christmas but last Saturday went down to high riding Thornbury 19-29 at home. Their away form is decidedly patchy like most others in the bottom half of the table with just one win at Old Patesians 22-15.

Bridgwater & Albion turned into the new year with a fine 17-3 home victory against Crediton here two weeks ago staving off a double but they could not do the same at rampant Devonport last Saturday. The 13-45 score line was certainly a considerable injustice bearing in mind that for the middle 55 minutes of the game we competed admirably and had the home side under pressure. Alas it was the opening 6 minutes during which we conceded 14 points and the final 15 minutes which saw Devonport put in 26 further points which did the damage. Like Keynsham, Albion’s away form is precarious with the narrow win at Old Patesians being our only salvation to date. The aforementioned Patesians seem to have got their act in order now with two consecutive wins in the new year which together with a reasonable accumulation of bonus points, now pushes them ahead of us leaving Albion at the foot of the table. We will be looking for similar inspired performance as that against Crediton in the somewhat inclement conditions two weeks ago with Albion showing that they can adapt their game to suit both the climate and opposition.

Albion’s line-up at Devonport showed just 3 changes from the team which beat Crediton – a considerable improvement on the 5 or 6 regular changes from week to week which we have experienced this season. After Devonport’s opening salvo this settled the side and we were able to take the game to them – in fact winning the middle 55 minutes 13-5 and that included Will Monro’s fine individual kick, chase, hack and fall try. Stuart Heal and Kyran Devitt’s penalty goals kept us in the hunt. We certainly need to look at our form in the remaining run in to the season’s end.

There is no respite as we face a difficult visit to Lydney next week and it is likely that the visit to Chew Valley postponed before Christmas will be played on 5 February. That and the Somerset Cup match at Wellington at the end of February means another busy month and it is one which we will need to prepare for.

With RFU intent upon restructuring leagues for next season based upon more “local” fixtures, then all teams are playing for position with more regional sides being created above and at this level. We will see what “local” means – no doubt at the end of this season.

Saturday 29 January United XV v Midsomer Norton II

Kick-off 1430

Saturday 12 February 1st XV v Newent

Kick-off 1500

Saturday 19 February United XV v Nailsea & Backwell II

Kick-off 1430

Saturday 5 March 1st XV v Old Patesians

Kick-off 1500

As indicated, it is likely that the re-arranged match at Chew Valley will be on Saturday 5 February and on 26 February we have been drawn away to Wellington in the quarter final of the Webb Ellis Somerset Cup. SIDES AND ASIDES

UNITED XV BACK IN ACTION Our United XV after a gap of some four weeks returned to action at home to Chew Valley II last Saturday but were defeated 3-38. Often falling foul to the considerable changes in our 1 st XV, the United have had difficulty in producing a settled side and will be looking to galvanise their performances for the remainder of the season and today they make the reverse journey to Keynsham.

TODAY’S MATCH SPONSORS Today’s match against Keynsham is kindly sponsored by our former Dirtrackers XV. This team started life in the early 1960’s as the 3rd XV or Athletic XV as it was known for many years before adopting the Dirtrackers tag. This was a team promoted by the late, great Jack Smith who ran the side as its manager for the majority of the time it was in existence from those 1960’s days until the demise of the side in 2018 – within two years of Jack’s death in December 2016. However countless players have appeared in the team and a large number are gathering today to support the club but principally to pay homage to their long time friend and colleague David Norman who sadly passed away in March 2020 just before lockdown hit the club and rugby football in general.

Immediately following Dave’s death, then the following tribute was placed on the club’s website and it is worth repeating this to remind all members of Dave’s considerable attachment and impact on club performances.

DAVID NORMAN 21.09.1973 TO 11.03.2020

David had come up through our Minis and Juniors ranks and played in the Colts before embarking in our senior XV’s where he has been present for many years. He has always been an extremely capable player and ought to have enhanced his 1 st XV career much more than actually happened. However he was always content to turn out for the club whenever and wherever required and in whatever side and indeed in a variety of positions. Naturally a hooker but well capable of being on either side of the front row as well as in the back row. He always made a full contribution to every game he played in. He was an outstanding teammate on the basis that other players knew that he would give his all and he could be relied on to lead from the front. He captained our Dirtrackers side for several seasons and had a tremendous following amongst the players – so much so that in those days the Dirtrackers could field a side and a half and sometimes almost two teams – such was the popularity and the quality of the play.

Dave was a disciple of the late great Dirtracker manager Jack Smith. Together they ensured that the Dirtrackers remained strong and competitive. Dave was on the point of hoping to resurrect a Dirtrackers/veterans XV and the club certainly hopes that someone else will take over that mantle.

Dave had a relatively early introduction to senior rugby – mainly through playing for Bridgwater & Taunton Police where his father Rex was an incumbent. That ensured that Dave was ready for senior rugby when he came through from the Colts XV.

Dave’s prowess was such that he has been sought after by the 1 st XV in fairly recent times due to his ability to adapt to the front row positions and made his last 1st XV appearance on 3 February 2018 as a replacement against Exeter University – one of his four appearances that season.

He made his 1st XV debut on 2 September 2000 at Keynsham in South West I (Level 5) and in all made 19 1 st XV appearances.

Despite these few appearances at the top – the majority were at a time when the club needed his skills and durability when encountering problems in their front row personnel. He readily stepped up to the mark and never let the side down. He would have been somewhat pleased with the prowess of the Dirtrackers’ front row which showed through when Dave and Jason Moulding both played in a match at Exmouth in 2011/12. That same season the third member of the Dirtrackers front row Mat Ruddle also appeared in the 1 st XV. Only last Saturday he was assisting our United XV to a fine win against Midsomer Norton here at College Way and scoring a typical barnstorming close range try as well as performing for the full 80 minutes.

Not only was he a player of considerable quality – he was also a very heavy try-scorer. Give him the sniff of the line from a few metres out and a quick tap penalty and he would be over time and time again. He often caught the opposition unawares in these moves but we always knew what was going to happen and a certain 5 points for us.

Dave accumulated over 200 tries in his career of around 700 games.

Perhaps his crowning glory was the Dirtrackers’ 2009/10 season when they were in a race with Wellington II for the Somerset 2 South title. The teams tied at the top and both were promoted to Somerset 1. This was a time when Albion’s 2nd XV was in limbo but the team returned to take over the mantle of promotion in Somerset 1 the following season. The playing record of 20-4 and 725 points against 200 tells the tale of dedication, commitment and leadership. He himself scored over 20 times to assist the cause.

Dave was well known on the Somerset league circuit and was a highly respected opponent from all clubs whom he encountered. His hard but very fair style of play and enthusiasm, energy and wit regaled his opponents and as a result, the spirit of the games in which he played meant enjoyment for all concerned.

In recent times Dave has taken to coaching our Ladies XV in which his wife Karen is making excellent progress as a player and the team is developing well.

He has lit up both the Broadway Ground and College Way over 30+ years with his considerable energy, enthusiasm and skills and he will be sadly missed both on and off the field where he was an extremely popular member of the club.

Scribe

It was somewhat poignant that just two days after Dave’s sudden death our United XV were home to Cheddar Valley on Friday 13 March 2020. In one of the most emotionally charged occasions for many years, there was only way in which the club and the players could honour Dave and that was by winning the game. They did so narrowly winning 12-10. With the 1st XV match on Saturday 14 March falling foul of the opposition’s Covid contractions – then the Dirtrackers celebrated in Dave renowned style with a “cheese and wine” party in time honoured fashion. Whilst playing colleagues over many years and members have grieved and mourned Dave’s death, there has been no opportunity for a celebration of his rugby football commitment to the club and today’s gathering is certain to rectify that with happy memories.

The club acknowledges the Dirtrackers’ considerable input to today’s events and hopes that they will repeat the occasion again and who knows – there may be sufficient personnel amongst them inspired to resurrect a Dirtrackers or similar XV.

GAVIN KNIGHT REACHES THE 100 1ST XV APPEARANCES MARK

Last Saturday at Devonport Services our hooker Gavin Knight led out the side on his 100 th appearance in the 1st XV.

Gavin in fact made his 1st XV debut exactly 11 years ago today against Cheltenham in the then South West One. He has battled through the intervening seasons with some consistent performances at both 1 st XV and United XV level – he has never been afraid to assist the United XV and was a prominent member of their surge a few seasons ago. This season he has played in all 15 of our matches to date, playing with considerable enthusiasm and skills. Although he has only crossed the whitewash three times during his career, all of these occasions have been splendidly celebrated.

He was on the mark at Crediton earlier this season. Now one of our senior players in age terms, he provides a consistent base to the side and we certainly hope that he will be adding to his appearances.

Appearances 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2021-22

Scores

8 13 14 2 16 3 5 17 7 15 100

T–5 T–5 T–5 3T - 15

Debut 22.1.2011

v Cheltenham

(SW1)

H

W 27-19

50

19.3.2016

v Camborne

(SW1W)

A

L 17-45

75

23.3.2019

v Okehampton

(SW1W)

A

L 0-18

100

15.1.2022

v Devonport Services

SW1W) A

L 13-45

Bridgwater and Albion RFC Team: 1. Michael Saunders – Kindly Sponsored by Ian Stone 2. Gavin Knight – Kindly Sponsored by Aspen Waite – 01278 445151 3. Matt Ranson – Kindly Sponsored by Godfrey and Shirley Stacey 4. Tom Hopkins – Kindly Sponsored by MRB Properties 5. Louis Staples– Kindly and cryptically chosen as one of the Presidents Men 6. Karolis Urbonas – Kindly and cryptically chosen as one of the Presidents Men 7. George Sluman – Kindly Sponsored by Jane Heal in memory of John 8. Taylor Buller 9. Jake Knight - – Kindly Sponsored by Mike Morgan Electrical Services - 434263 10. Oskar White – Kindly Sponsored by Britannia Lanes of Bristol and Somerset 11. Kyran Devitt 12. Jay Owens – Kindly Sponsored Neil Owens Carpet and Linyl – 07917 886009 13. Will Kerry 14. Will Monro – Kindly Sponsored by Richard Preece Mortgages 07545 860805 15. Roger Drabble – Kindly sponsored by Wayne Hill in memory of Dave Norman 16. James Palmer 17. Olly Davis 18. Jon Hill - Kindly Sponsored by MRB Properties

Keynsham RFC 1.Harding 2.Woodman 3.Etheridge 4.Linton 5. Cowan 6.Josham 7.Johnson (c) 8.Clements 9.Pearce 10.Deere 11.Concannon 12.Miller J 13.Challenger 14.Sayer 15.Chester 16.Balentine-Smith 17.Gazzard F 18.Carr M

Planning a wedding?

Ask for our wedding brochure via bookings@barfc.co.uk How amazing does our Sedgemoor suite looked fully dressed!

Packages include décor and welcome drinks for your special day xxx

Social and Rugby Events Dates for the diary Saturday 12th February – All pitch board, player sponsors and commercial partners will be contacted via email regarding this event. Please e-mail bookings@barfc.co.uk to confirm your attendance.

Saturday 26th March – Ladies Day £25         

Our most fun packed ladies day yet.

Welcome glass of bubbles Gorgeous 2 Course Lunch Watch Bridgwater and Albion take on St Austell 'Miss Jolene Dover' The amazing, 'Two Tone' Live Band Followed by karaoke with the lovely Paul Enever All for only £25 All proceeds after costs to be split 50/50 to the club and Cancer Research UK

E-mail: bookings@barfc.co.uk to book your table/seats. £10 deposit required per person to reserve table/seats. Refunds will only be given if we are closed due to Government Restrictions. Full Payment by 1st March or table will be released Saturday 9th April – Friends Luncheon E-mail Richard Atwell friendsofbaarfc@aol.com