Bridgwater & Albion RFC v Sidmouth RFC Match Programme

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC V SIDMOUTH RFC

FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2022 KO 7.30PM

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BRIDGWATER & ALBION v SIDMOUTH

FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2022 KICK-OFF 7.30 PM

BOTH SIDES OUT TO SHAKE OFF CORNISH HANGOVERS AND GET BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK AGAIN

We welcome Sidmouth to College Way tonight avoiding the local turmoil of Bridgwater Carnival tomorrow and we thank our visitors for agreeing to switch the fixture for this logistical reason – it all makes sense.

Fixtures between the clubs date back to the early 20th Century and prior to Sidmouth’s elevation to this level in 2013/14, the sides had only met four times in friendlies in the last 47 years. Albion completed the double in 2013/14 43-17 here and 27-10 away and Sidmouth sadly suffered relegation. However, they were back relatively quickly winning Western Counties West in 2018/19 pipping their Devon rivals Crediton who accompanied them into this league. Sidmouth showed their calibre in that curtailed 2019/20 season finishing a creditable 5th on 71.45 points and would have been pleased with their overall performance and indeed snuck a 27-24 victory here in December 2019. The next season was of course banished and last season the clubs fought a 21-21 draw on this ground in November 2021 but Sidmouth turned up the burners on a cold and blustery day with a resounding 42-3 victory on their own ground with a fine all-round performance.

This season, Sidmouth started excellently and were undefeated in their first six matches which started with a 17-17 home draw against Newton Abbot. Narrow wins against North Petherton, St Austell and Wellington followed and convincing victories against Sherborne and Teignmouth were added. However in the last two weeks Sidmouth have gone down by an almost identical score line to the two promoted Cornish clubs Wadebridge Camels at home 15-29 and 14-29 at Truro the previous week. However they will hold their 2418 earlier home win against St Austell with some pride. Despite these defeats they are in 4th place with a 51-2 record and on 26 points. They are tucked in behind the aforementioned Truro on 29 and everyone else now looks at a bit of a gap opening up with St Austell on 35 points in second place behind unbeaten Crediton on 38. We wish Sidmouth well tonight and in their further quests in this first half of the season.

NEXT MATCHES ON THIS GROUND

Saturday 12 November United XV v Wells II

Kick-off 1430

Saturday 26 November 1st XV v Wadebridge Camels

Kick-off 1500

Friday 2 December 1st XV v Chard

Kick-off 1930

SIDES AND ASIDES

Bridgwater & Albion also suffered the Cornish malaise last Saturday – being thumped 83-0 by a rampant St Austell side. Perhaps the indications were there last season when St Austell won 66-12 using the blustery conditions and sloping ground to advantage. They did the same again last Saturday with a fine all-round display of sweeping handling from backs and forwards alike. They were not afraid to kick the ball down field and did that with some aplomb, gaining several 50/22 advantages. Albion – not to be outdone – worked their socks and other parts of their kit off in defending magnificently reflecting the ability of the home side to keep the ball alive and to create the extra man where necessary.

Albion thought that they had turned the corner with the 20-0 victory over Sherborne here three weeks ago but alas, first Teignmouth and then St Austell dampened any hopes of creating a recovery run. There is of course no reason why we should not get back on the game tonight and try and make up ground from our bottom of the table place over the next few weeks – a trip to Truro of course beckons next Saturday. Our problem has been the continual disruption of the side with last Saturday’s line-up showing seven changes from the previous week and some of those were also positional changes. For example, Roger Drabble has played in three positions so far as has Taylor Buller and Will Kerry has played both at full-back and at standoff. We welcomed back Tom Steer at stand-off last Saturday after a week’s absence and he and Drabble formed an experienced half-back pairing which was important in the difficult circumstances and they at least attempted to put us in the right positions during the game. Perhaps the best was left to last as when Albion conceded their final points with 6 minutes to go, the crowd were baying for the “hundred”. However, Albion thought differently and for the next 12 minutes they hammered the St Austell line to no avail, obtaining penalty after penalty as they strove for the consolation score. If that spirt can be applied from the start of a game, then the opposition had better watch out. Let’s hope that will be the case tonight.

As indicated, we visit Truro for the first time for many years next Saturday; there is then a league break on 19 October before we round up the first half of the season with further Cornish visitors in Wadebridge Camels on 26 November.

England outside of the then National Leagues and recognised by a special award to the club at a dinner held at Leicester

SIDES AND ASIDES UNITED XV STILL STAGNANT

Unfortunately the considerable disruptions in our 1st XV lines-up this season have meant that we have been struggling to field our United XV on a regular basis and they have only played three games from the eight scheduled matches so far. Mind you, they have won two of those so we are assured of some quality and it is hoped that tomorrow’s match at local rivals Morganians will take place – members should check the kickoff time in view of the carnival interruptions.

WOMEN’S XV NOTCH AWAY VICTORY

Our Women’s XV visited Crewkerne on 23 October and came away with a well-earned 24-12 victory. This team trains hard and works hard to ensure it gives a good account of itself and they are now finding their feet in their higher league programme. It appears that Old Bristolians scheduled to visit on Sunday have withdrawn from the league.

FRIENDS OF BRIDGWATER & ALBION

On 26 November a lunch together with normal “Friends” type entertainment is being promoted before the match against Wadebridge Camels. Tables of 10 are available at a cost of £260. Although this is not an official Friends sponsorship, the club is using their resources to promote the match with the Friends opting to host their sponsorship in the final game of the season against Wellington in March. Why not come along and join in the entertainment.

LANDMARKS AHOY

In the match against St Austell, George Sluman made his 125th appearance in his 9th season with the club.

He has been the club captain for the last two seasons. George made his debut in September 2013 against Camborne and won his badge in his 75th match against Thornbury in September 2019. He has scored 13 tries in his 1st XV career.

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

APPEARANCES

SCORES

4 6 1 17 28 18

T–5 T–5 6T – 30

2019-20 2021-22 2022-23 (up to 3.11.22)

21 22 8 125

3T – 15 1T - 5 1T - 5 13T - 65

Debut 14.9.2013 v Camborne

H

50

24.2.2018 v Hornets

WSM L 22-48 (WE SCRFU Cup semi final)

75

7.9.2019 v Thornbury

H

L 20-23

100

29.10.2021v North Petherton H

W 10-6

125

29.10.22 V St Austell

L 0-83

A

W 14-0

Roger Drabble made his 140th appearance at St Austell and Taylor Buller reached 119 appearances in the same game. Jay Owens has now reached 60 appearances and both Will Kerry and Karolis Urbonas who celebrated his wedding last Friday are on 42 with Tom Hopkins and the departed John Hill tucking in behind on 38.

MJ Tompkins (2T) AJ Harris (T) NP Edmonds (6P C DG).

Bridgwater and Albion RFC – Forth coming events Christmas Party Nights Friday 16th December and Saturday 17th December Luxury Christmas Buffet Dance the night away to LIVE band - The Haus Band Then party on with a disco! £26 per Ticket. £10 deposit required per person.

Farmers Lunch from the Friends of Bridgwater and Albion RFC – Saturday 26th November Great pre Christmas day out!

Farmers Ploughman's Lunch followed by apple pie.

Comedian and match entry to watch B&A take on Wadebridge Camels £25 Please book through the club on 01278 423900 or e-mail bookings@barfc.co.uk Dirt trackers Sponsor – Saturday 28th January Tickets from the club office

The Friends Luncheon – Saturday 11th March

Ladies Day – Saturday 18th March Our amazing Ladies Day is back. Book your table now with a deposit of £10 per ticket.

Presentation Evening – Friday 5th May

Please book all through the club on 01278 423900 or e-mail bookings@barfc.co.uk

Bridgwater and Albion RFC Team: 1 Michael Saunders - Kindly Sponsored by HM Electrical 2 Karolis Urbonas 3 Cameron Modley – Kindly Sponsored by Mike Morgan Electrical 4 Tom Hopkins Kindly Sponsored by Long Controls Long Controls Limited - Home 5 Leigh Parker – Kindly Sponsored by Western Fuel Limited 6 Jack Perry 7 George Sluman (Capt) Kindly Sponsored by Jane Heal in memory of John 8 Taylor Buller (Vice Capt) 9 Roger Drabble 10 Tom Steer 11 Chris Tong 12 Jay Owens Kindly Sponsored by Neil Owens Carpet and Vinyl 07917 886009 13 Lewis Plece Kind sponsored by Mike and Ryan Plece 14 Richard Bright 15 James Collins 16 James Palmer 17 Tom West 18 Ollie Philips

Sidmouth RFC 15. Jake Allen 14. Sam Heathcote 13. Sam Meadham 12. George Locke 11. Ollie Hansford 10. Dan Retter 9. Cam Grainger 1. Richie Hull 2. Ollie Derryman (c) 3. Matt Ewings 4. Dan Armstrong 5. Nick Mills 6. James Salter 7. Dan Rugg 8. Connor Preston 16. Chris Otway 17. Rhys Thomas 18. Aidan Summerfield