CAMELS ARRIVE ON A CHARGE WHILST ALBION SEEK TO BUILD ON BONUS POINT FROM CORNISH EXPLOITS
We welcome Wadebridge Camels on College Way today for the last match of the first half of the 2022/23 season. The Camels started life in the Cornwall divisions when leagues were first introduced but fairly quickly made their way to Western Counties West which is where they plied their skills for many years with a very consistent level of performance and since 2010 usually coming fifth or sixth with the exception of tenth in 2015/16. However, in 2021/22 they went the whole hog and won all 26 matches with a points accumulation of 128 in league terms to arrive at this Level 6 an impressive record.
We have encountered Wadebridge Camels in two previous seasons in 2012/13 when they first achieved promotion they finished a commendable fifth with a 14 12 record and won both of their matches against Bridgwater & Albion 32 23 here in September 2012 and 27 21 on their own ground in January 2013. However in 2013/14 Albion turned tail and won 20 8 at Wadebridge in December 2013 and 40 29 here in April 2014. Sadly at the end of that season, Wadebridge were relegated but they have hit back and their performance last season set out their stall and indeed, they have progressed well for a newly promoted club winning 5 and drawing 1 of their ten games to date and sit in a healthy fifth place in the league on 28 points. In their last outing they defeated Wellington at home 24 7.
This is Bridgwater & Albion’s third meeting with Cornish opposition this season and we have already seen the quality of their mettle. With St Austell sitting at the top of the league just ahead of Crediton and Truro tucking in in third place and that is where we grasped a bonus point in a 24 43 defeat two weeks ago the first such point of the season and a welcome one at that. We wish Wadebridge well on their return visit and look forward to the away match later in the season.
Bridgwater & Albion having suffered a somewhat traumatic week with the tragic death of one of our Women’s XV travelled and battled hard at Truro two weeks ago and secured the elusive bonus point. Alas our joy was somewhat tempered when we found that Sherborne had beaten North Petherton on the night before to just jump above us in league terms. The Truro visit followed a splendid narrow home victory against fourth placed Sidmouth on the previous Friday night an inspired performance. Yes, changes abounded in both matches yet again but there may be some hint of team consistency. Chris Tong is making the most of his scoring opportunities with his third try of the season at Truro; Taylor Buller has showed his versatility in a positional sense and also with the boot and his try and two conversions at Truro showed this; James Collings has returned from Hornets to add some extra versatility amongst out backs, having appeared at full back and stand off in the last two weeks.
At the turn of the league season Albion will look back and ponder what could have been and what must be for the second half. We will need to galvanise together and turn over some of the narrow defeats which we have suffered and to ease up the table. In a normal season, eight wins are sufficient to retain status and that is what we must go for. It has a been a difficult first half with considerable changes of personnel both leaving the club and then in the composition of our weekly sides. However, the spirit and enthusiasm of both the players and the coaching staff is good and better performances are now coming to the fore. The same applies to our 2nd XV who have stumbled this season but when they have played, they have performed well. That is also a good sign to boost general performances and to produce more players capable of playing in our 1st XV.
Chard are our visitors next Friday evening for the start of the second half of the season and we will be looking to turn over a 0 27 away defeat on a sunny Friday in September. However Chard have not made much progress either since that time and it is games like that which we need to tuck under our belts to assist our upward progress. A trip to second placed Crediton follows before Newton Abbot round off the 2022 entertainment here on 18 December.
Since our last 1st XV home match, our United XV has produced two splendid victories firstly a 50 8 win at Morganians on Carnival day and a 40 0 defeat at Wells II here on 12 November. It just shows what we can do when we can field the full XV and even though several players were playing out of position, there were some remarkable performances with the likes of Cam Modley and Mike Saunders maybe an unlikely centre/wing pairing but my word very effective as the opposition found. Add in some prompting from the stand in skipper Ollie Philips who has played variously as prop, hooker, scrum half and stand off this season, then you have what it takes to ensure that you are competitive. Ollie’s goal kicking in the match against Wells II was also a revelation. Taylor Galloway is also making good progress in the No. 9 shirt. Whilst these two victories mean that we are still in the bottom three, we have much to build on and today the team visit Hornets III who are in mid table before visiting Somerton next week for the start of the second half followed by a home match against Chard II on 10 December.
Bridgwater & Albion RFC and the game of rugby football generally provided an emotional and staunchly united tribute to our women’s XV player Bethany Branson who was tragically killed in a road traffic accident on 8 November
The club and many others have paid tribute to the sad loss of Women’s XV player Bethany Branson over the last two weeks. Fittingly, our Women’s XV were due to play Wiveliscombe on Friday 11 November and the game went ahead as a particular tribute to Bethany and in strong support of her friends and family. On an emotionally charged night, Bridgwater & Albion Women’s XV fielded its largest squad 26 players all who were keen to remember their prop forward and friend and determined to give a stirring display. They certainly did that winning 74 5 against an equally game Wiveliscombe XV who are relative newcomers to Women’s rugby but who entered into the spirit of the occasion in more ways than one.
It is in times like this that the game of rugby football comes together its sorority and brotherhood shining through. On a fresh Friday evening a substantial crowd turned out to pay their personal tributes and players and supporters from all ranks of the club were present. The team on the field produced a performance of which Beth would have been proud.
The club’s opponents at Men’s Senior level on Saturday 12 November Truro and Wells also paid tribute by following Albion’s example and standing down their No. 3 shirt for the game. The club also received other messages of support from many other clubs showing that the game unites in times of need.
The club extends its sincere condolences to Beth’s family on their sad loss.
Our Women’s XV’s next outing is due to be at Dings Crusaders on Sunday 4 December and back here against Chew Valley Cats Ladies the following Sunday.
