Bridgwater and Albion RFC v Lydney RFC - Saturday 9th October

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC V LYDNEY RFC Tipsy Tea SATURDAY 9th OCTOBER 2021

FORESTERS VISIT INTENT ON MAINTAINING GOOD START WHILST BRIDGWATER & ALBION SEEK TO GET OFF THE MARK We welcome Lydney from the Forest of Dean to College Way today for the third consecutive season (ignoring 2020/21). This fixture was a traditional one in pre-league days and also during the early years of the competitive structure until home and away league matches were introduced to knock out any suggestion of friendlies. When leagues were formed in 1987 Lydney were placed in Area South (N2SW now) together with Stroud (who have sadly withdrawn from this league this season). Lydney gained promotion to National 1 (Level 3) where they remained for several seasons. However, in the last decade they have come down through N2S and SW Premier to this Level 6. In 2018/19 they finished seventh but in 2019/20 they enhanced their fallen reputation – coming in third place on an adjusted 81.60 points just below Thornbury but well short of the champions Hornets.

Lydney have started the 2021/22 campaign with some aplomb with two wins and a draw from their first four matches – three of which have been at home.

After an opening day 49-29 win against fellow Gloucestershire rivals Old Patesians they drew 0-0 at Sidmouth – a surprising result in this day and age and particularly on a very dry and hot day; they next succumbed to newcomers St Austell who are making excellent progress 16-29 but recovered to beat Thornbury last week 24-0. They sit in sixth place on 12 points.

In the recent league encounters to date, the home side has won this fixture but do not read much into that as we enjoyed the same advantage against Devonport Services until the other week. In 2018/19 Lydney won 10-8 in somewhat inclement conditions at Regentsholme whilst Albion recovered to win 17-11 in February 2019. In the last season 2019/20 then Albion won 19-13 here in October 2019 and Lydney turned on a remarkable display in what was extra inclement conditions at Regentsholme on the return in February 2020 winning 43-0 in a understandably curtailed match. Lydney will wish to impose themselves today to keep in touch with the leading clubs – Chew Valley and St Austell – who both sit on 20 points with Devonport Services close behind on 18 but with a game in hand on the top two.

Bridgwater & Albion’s form at Keynsham improved but not sufficiently so to stop the rot of five consecutive defeats in going down 20-25. The game played in incessant rain but on an otherwise firm surface - just slipped away from us as we got back in the frame but could not put the finishing touches in a dominant second half. In the wet conditions it was crying out for the ball to be kicked deeper into the Keynsham 22 rather than try and play the rugby from further out where any handling errors gave the home side back the initiative.

Once again Albion conceded an early try (3 minutes) but came back admirably and sensibly kicked a penalty goal to narrow the score. Keynsham also took the penalty options to increase their lead and just before half time we produced a splendid try for Shaun Mahoney on the burst after debutante scrum-half (he had previously played in the centre) Jake Knight made the half break duly converted by Kyran Devitt. Alas the killer blow arrived from the kickoff as Albion conceded an interception try to allow Keynsham to go in the more buoyant side. The home side took advantage of such fortune and increased their lead immediately in the opening minutes of the second half but after that, Albion wrested the initiative and took the play to Keynsham although sometimes from too far back up the field. Kyran Devitt making his 74th appearance – today should be his badge award match – kept the scoreboard ticking over with a further penalty and added the conversion points to Adam King’s fine try when he scythed through the Keynsham defence to score under the posts. This was a long game due to stoppages and Albion had time to complete the job but alas despite coming close, the Keynsham defence and handling errors snuffed out the anticipation. The defeat leaves Albion lingering at the bottom of the table with just 2 bonus points. Today is our fourth home match of the season already and appropriate advantage needs to be taken. As already proven and as history will always tell, there is no such thing as an easy game in this league.

The league fixtures take a break next week before Albion visit Newent on 23 October hoping to repeat their first ever victory there from November 2019.

Then it is back to College Way for a Friday evening encounter against local rivals North Petherton on 29 October.

SIDES AND ASIDES UNITED XV OVERTAKEN BY CHEDDAR VALLEY Our United XV – cock-a-hoop from the opening victory against Wellington II – looked to be repeating the dose against Cheddar Valley here last Saturday when early in the second half they were leading 13-3 – but Cheddar came back to score two goals to clinch the issue 17-13. It was a tale of scrum-halves as Jon W Hill in the No. 9 spot kicked two penalties whilst Roger Drabble playing at stand-off produced the crosskick for Dan Page (playing at full-back) to score our try. The United XV rang the changes from its first match as did the 1 st XV who have now used 35 players in the senior side so far this season.

The United XV will need to be on their mettle again today with a visit to Chew Valley II who head Somerset 1 with two wins from two along with Old Redcliffians II and North Petherton II. Bridgwater & Albion are in fourth spot but it is early days yet.

LANDMARKS Several players are in sight of notable personal landmarks. The daddy of them all – Matt Ranson – needs seven more appearances to reach his cap target of 250.

Garryn Basson needs two more appearances to make 125.

George Sluman leads the race to 100 needing a further three appearances; whilst Gavin Knight and Lewis Phillips have this target in sight this season needing a further 11 and 13 appearances respectively.

As already mentioned in this programme, Kyran Devitt stands by for his 75 th appearance today and Oscar Tregenna having appeared against Devonport Services – needs a further nine for the same target.

Two of our burgeoning players Shaun Mahoney and James Brakes now need three appearances each to reach the 50 mark.

All great experience and we wish these players well in fulfilling their personal targets.

NEXT MATCHES ON THIS GROUND Saturday 23 October United XV v Keynsham II

Kick-off 3 pm

Friday 29 October 1st XV v North Petherton

Kick-off 7.30 pm

Saturday 6 November United XV v Morganians

Kick-off 2.30 pm

Saturday 20 November 1st XV v Sidmouth

Kick-off 3 pm

There are league breaks on both 16 October and 13 November but the club has entered the Somerset Webb Ellis Cup again this season – and the draw for the first round has just been announced and this round is due to be played in the weekend of 12-14 November. Albion will visit Winscombe of Western Counties North for the second time in the competition. The full draw is:WINSCOMBE V BRIDGWATER & ALBION NORTH PETHERTON V TAUNTON UNIVERSITY OF BATH V CHARD OLD REDCLIFFIANS V HORNETS Byes are awarded to Midsomer Norton, Weston-super-Mare, Wellington and Gordano.

TIPSY TREATS DAY TO BE ENJOYED The club is likely to be overwhelmed by a wholly female congregation (or insofar as we are lead to believe) for the club’s first staging of its Tipsy Treats day. It means what it says and if you are reading these notes prior to the game, then you have probably missed out. The players will undoubtedly hope that the participants can spare some time between 15.00 and 16.30 to cast their gazes out of the windows or better still come around the pitch to enjoy the action on the field – the treats excepting. We wish all of our guests an entertaining afternoon.

Bridgwater and Albion RFC Team: 1. Michael Saunders – Kindly Sponsored by Ian Stone 2. Gavin Knight – Kindly Sponsored by Aspen Waite – 01278 445151 3. Lewis Phillips – Kindly Sponsored by Richard Preece Mortgages 07545 860805 4. Wayne Sprangle 5.

Alex Payne (C) – E18hteen Gin - www.18gin.co.uk

6. Shaun Mahoney – Aspen Waite – 01278 445151 7. George Sluman – Kindly Sponsored by Jane Heal in memory of John 8. Ethan Trebble-Westlake 9. Jake Knight 10.

Stuart Heal – Connect Electrical Services – www.connect-electrical-services.co.uk

11. Thomas Croal 12. Lewis Plece 13. Oskar White 14. Roger Drabble – Kindly Sponsored by Wayne Hill in memory of Dave Norman 15. Kyran Devitt 16. Matthew Ranson - Kindly Sponsored by Shirley Stacey 17. Karolis Urbonas 18.

Nick Parry – Kindly Sponsored by My Locum Choice - MLC Pharmacy (mylocumchoice.com)

All the above are available for sponsorship please e-mail emma@barfc.co.uk to arrange.

Lydney RFC 1 Costner Lane 2 Ashley Howells 3 Harrison Fowke 4 Ryan Stephens 5 John Barker 6 Jimmy Walter 7 Jordan Fowke 8 Reilly Scriven 9 Sam Arnott capt 10 Joe Hamlin 11 Mike Cross 12 Joe McLean 13 Henry Sleeman 14 Tom Cubitt 15 Alex Nelmes 16 James Pugh 17 Rob White 18 Jake Bonser

EXCITING NEWS PLEASE READ This coming Sunday 10th October we start our season for our FIRST EVER LEAUGE MATCH! (Women's NC 3 South West (West)). To mark the start of this new venture we will be playing North Bristol Womens 2’s at home 2pm KO As it’s our first time going into a structured league we hope you can come down to the club in support and help cheer us women on! We look forward to seeing you next Sunday for a day full of both excitement and maybe a few nerves!# Psssst.. The bars open too!

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