BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC V SIDMOUTH RFC Match Day Programme

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC v SIDMOUTH RFC SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2021 – KO 3PM

Match Sponsors The Friends of Bridgwater and Albion

Match Ball Sponsors Bridgwater Cricket Club

ALBION STARTING TO PLAY CATCH-UP WHILST SIDMOUTH ALSO FIGHT TO STEM A RUN OF DEFEATS

We welcome Sidmouth to College Way today for their second appearance following their promotion to this league for the 2019/20 season. Unfortunately the clubs were only able to meet once in that season due to the curtailment and Sidmouth won here in early December 2019 27-4 en route to a commendable fifth place finish in the adjusted league on 71.45 points. In their previous appearance at this level in 2013/14 Albion won the home match 43-17 and took the double by winning 27-10 away. Matches between the clubs date back as far as 1900 and there have only been spasmodic meetings in 1975, 1977, 1983 and 1989 before the league encounters.

Sidmouth have spent most of their league life through Devon 1, Devon and Cornwall, Western Counties West and South West 1 West. In 2019/20 they secured promotion pipping their fellow Devon rivals Crediton who accompanied them into this league. In the adjusted league reckonings for 2019/20 Sidmouth finished fifth on 71.45 and would certainly have been pleased with their overall performances.

This season – like ourselves - Sidmouth has struggled to gain much momentum having started with two defeats and a remarkable 0-0 draw against Lydney in their first three matches; they then pepped up beating North Petherton at home 21-15 and Old Patesians away 18-13 (a familiar story there!). However three consecutive defeats have now dampened that surge and they will no doubt be seeking to get back on the road to victory. A natural contrast to Bridgwater & Albion’s plight this season and so sure to be an entertaining match today.

Today will be a battle of former Exeter Chiefs players Phil Dolman and Carl Rimmer who are the respective coaches of Sidmouth and Bridgwater & Albion this season. Whilst they have been team mates for several seasons, they now find themselves on opposite sides. No doubt having been honed on the same training patterns, it will be interesting to see how their sides have adapted and what the contrast may be, particularly bearing in mind that Phil was a back and Carl a forward in their Chiefs days.

Bridgwater & Albion finally got off the mark in the Friday evening match against North Petherton three weeks ago, winning a naturally tense encounter 10-6. We followed that up with an equally close match at Old Patesians before winning 19-16. There, surprisingly, both sides played better against the elements – the slope and the wind and the prospect of taking advantage of those vagaries were never exploited by either side. The 50/22 Law introduced this season is rarely employed but there was a pitch and conditions crying out for it. Stuart Heal was on form kicking four penalty goals and a conversion to go with Wayne Sprangle’s try. That certainly means that we are on a roll and will be hoping to pick off Sidmouth who sit just above us in league terms today.

Albion extended their winning run to three matches with a narrow 28-27 victory at Winscome in last Saturday’s Webb Ellis SCRFU Cup first round. The fixture – a natural banana skin given the contrast in the teams’ performances to date – was always going to be a close run thing. Winscombe sit 4 th in the league below and are generally a young side (two of their players however had achieved 300 appearances last week

and one was making his 400th in the Cup game). They like to move the ball around the field using their all-

round mobile team. Fortunately Albion were able to enter into the same spirit despite having made seven changes from the successful side at Old Patesians. This again put the emphasis on youth and players like Ethan Treble-Westlake, George Sluman and Gavin Knight assumed the senior mantles in the forwards whilst Roger Drabble was the ultimate veteran at full-back skilfully marshalling his much younger charges in front of him. Jon W Hill and Oskar White played delightfully at half-back, carving out space for both themselves and their colleagues as well as kicking us into some good places. Both scored splendid individual tries breaking through the Winscombe defence from 35 metres out and crossing unimpeded. Albion’s experience and nous around the fringes proved to be the vital contribution and they were able to secure many turnovers to dampen Winscombe’s enthusiasm. Here, the senior players truly played their part. The scoring was rounded off by a first try for Ross Mark after White had carved his way through the first line of Winscombe defence and sent the wing racing in from 35 metres again. White’s kicking contribution of 13 points added the gloss. The home side responded throughout the game pulling back two goals in the 60 th and 70th minutes to make for an exciting finish. However Albion were able to close down the game and snuff out any last attempts by the now desperate home side. We will look forward to the second round draw in this competition. Both sides are to be congratulated on producing a style of play very pleasing on the eye and no doubt enjoyable to play in – far better than some of the stodge which is served up by many sides at all levels these days.

SIDES AND ASIDES

UNITED XV ALSO LOOKING UP Simultaneous with the 1st XV return to winning form, the United are not to be outdone. Two weeks ago they won convincingly 57-13 at Midsomer Norton II and last week also achieved the half century winning 55-7 at home to local rivals Morganians. This return to form was amplified by the showing of several of those who were promoted to the 1st XV in last Saturday’s Cup match at Winscombe. These two wins bring the United up to 5th place in the league and they will be hoping to continue their run at Nailsea and Backwell II today – the home side still without a win.

FRIENDS OF BRIDGWATER & ALBION Today’s match is duly sponsored by the Friends of Bridgwater & Albion – a band of supporters, sponsors and other interested parties who get together twice a season to stage a lunch before one of our home games.

The Friends offer appropriate financial support to the club generally. We are always grateful for their efforts and the lunches are well supported giving the team on the field a natural boost. We hope that the Friends and their guests will enjoy their day as usual and thank them for their continued support.

BIDGWATER CRICKET CLUB We also warmly Bridgwater Cricket Club as our match ball sponsor. We hope they have an enjoyable day.

As always, we are very thankful for their support.

WOMEN’S XV PROGRESS FURTHER After getting off the mark in their second league fixture at Cheddar Valley (19-7), our Women’s XV went many better in defeating Ashley Down Women 50-0 here two weeks ago. They are thus fulfilling the early promise they have shown – a team well worth watching if you get the opportunity.

NOTABLE LANDMARKS ACHIEVED ON SUCCESSFUL NIGHT In our match against North Petherton on 29 October George Sluman made his 100 th appearance in our 1st XV and Shaun Mahoney his 50th. Both players celebrated in the 10-6 victory.

GEORGE W SLUMAN DOB 4.04.1992

After making his debut in September 2013 George has accumulated his appearances and in those early days he was captain of our United XV and led the side for a few seasons where the highlight was the unbeaten Somerset 1 2015/16 campaign when the side won all 26 matches and romped to promotion. His prowess and progress there meant that he graduated to a full-time 1st XV player in the next season and since then, has rarely been out of our side appearing in all 28 matches in 2017/18 and all 21 in the curtailed 2019/20 season.

George came up through the ranks through our Mini, Junior and Youth Sections so he has already spent a considerable amount of time at College Way. After completing his secondary education at Bridgwater College, he went to Bangor University and was captain there in 2012/13. He is a strong forceful runner with the ball and provides excellent defence around the fringes of the loose and off the scrum. He has scored 11 tries in his 102 appearances to date.

2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2021-22 (up to 19.11.21)

APPEARANCES

SCORES

4 6 1 17 28 18 21 7 102

T–5 T–5 6T – 30 3T – 15 11T - 55

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

SHAUN AARON MAHONEY DOB 23.9.1993

W 14-0

Shaun Mahoney joined the club from Taunton in 2015/16 and made his debut in the very last game of that season in the local derby against North Petherton. He appeared then at hooker and for the next few seasons remained in that position. In recent times however he has become a marauding back row forward and in the early matches of this season it was his thrusts and momentum which kept Albion in some of their games – his bursts at and through the opposition providing much attacking platform and putting the team in some good positions to prosper. He has already scored three tries this season in his eight appearances. His style of play and commitment to it means that he is prone to injury as his restricted appearances in 2017-18 and the fact that he missed the whole of the 2018-19 season indicates. However despite this his style has not changed nor would we want it to. A fine committed player who can go further.

APPEARANCES

SCORES

1 22 6 14 8 51

T–5 3T – 15 3T – 15 7T - 35

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2019-20 2021-22 (up to 19.11.21)

Debut 23.4.16 v North Petherton

H

L 18-22

B&A XV on debut:JH Hill; Barnett Manupenu Gurnett Tregenna; Ashwin Fournier D’Albe; Spillesey Dunn Ercolani T Buller Kemmish Tew Mahoney Phillips. Reps Thompson Franklin Nobili.

50 v North Petherton 29.12.21

W

W 10-6

NEXT FIXTURES ON THIS GROUND Friday 26 November United XV v North Petherton II – Kick-off 7.30 pm

Saturday 11 December United XV v Old Sulians – Kick-off 2.30 pm

Our scheduled 1st XV opponents for 4 December – Stroud – have of course withdrawn from the league – the United XV are at Old Redcliffians on that day.

Bridgwater and Albion RFC Team:

1. Michael Saunders – Kindly Sponsored by Ian Stone 2. Gavin Knight – Kindly Sponsored by Aspen Waite – 01278 445151 3. Samuel Adcock - – Kindly Sponsored by Ian Stone 4. Wayne Sprangle – Kindly Sponsored by Mike Morgan Electrical Services - 434263 5. Tom Hopkins – Kindly Sponsored by MRB Properties 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. Olly Davis 9. Jake Knight - – Kindly Sponsored by Mike Morgan Electrical Services - 434263 10. Stuart Heal – Connect Electrical Services – www.connect-electrical-services.co.uk 11. Thomas Croal – Kindly and cryptically chosen as one of Badger’s Boys 12. Oskar White – Kindly Sponsored by Britannia Lanes of Bristol and Somerset 13. Richard Bright 14. Will Monro – Kindly Sponsored by Richard Preece Mortgages 07545 860805 15. Kyran Devitt 16. James Palmer 17. Shaun Mahoney – Kindly Sponsored by Aspen Waite – 01278 445151 18. Roger Drabble – Kindly sponsored by Wayne Hill in memory of Dave Norman

Sidmouth RFC

1. Dan Rugg 2. Jed Reid 3. Haydon Down (c) 4. Dan Armstrong 5. Rob Griffin 6. James Salter 7. Asa Unsworth 8. George Jarman 9. Cam Grainger 10. Cole Monaghan 11. Cian Warren 12. Tom Hodge 13. George Locke 14. Tom Osborne 15. Phil Dollman 16. Matt Ewings 17. Nick Mills 18. Dan Retter