MONUMENT MEN COME SEEKING

SEASON’S DOUBLE OVER THE BRICK MEN WHILST THE HOME SCRUM-WORKER HOPES TO CELEBRATE A NOTABLE LANDMARK

Ah- it must be Wellington arriving at College Way. Forgive (or perhaps more like honour) the vernacular but it is this Scribe’s tribute to the eloquent late Wellington Scribe Arthur Scott whose expressions and colourful reporting embellished the game for many years. The league season started at Wellington early in September and will finish today at College Way. Wellington are the third oldest club in Somerset founded in 1874 after Bath 1865 and local rivals Wiveliscombe 1872. Bridgwater & Albion, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare and Chard were all formed a year later in 1875 as rugby football swept through the West Country. The clubs competed at all levels for many years with home and away fixtures abounding. These petered out towards the end of the 1960’s but the clubs honoured each other with a centenary game invitation in 1974 and 1975 respectively.

When leagues were founded in 1987 Wellington were in Somerset 1 but eventually they reached the regional stage where they played in the Devon/Cornwall league. In 2009/10 Wellington were champions of that league with an unbeaten 26 win season scoring a magnificent 1086 points. Since then, they settled in to Western Counties West – converting to the North Section in 2015/16 for one season before relegation from the Western Section the next year. They won Devon and Cornwall league in 2017/18 with an impressive 242 record. In the curtailed 2019/20 season, they finished third in Western Counties West sufficient to bring them deserved promotion.

Last season, Wellington found it difficult to get a foothold at this Level 6 but hung on with a 6-1-17 and 30 points record. In the opening game of that season, Wellington won here 13-10 but Albion avenged that loss on the last day of the season with a 34-23 win at the Recreation Ground. The clubs also met in the Webb Ellis Somerset Cup with Wellington winning through to the final where they and Hornets produced a highly entertaining game which the then Level 5 side just won – pulling away at the end. Earlier this season, Wellington won 20-11 on their own ground. So far, they have an even record in 2022/23 – 10 wins and 10 losses on 53 points and a commendable 7th place. Last week they went down 17-23 at Sherborne with the Dorset side making a late bid for safety; in the previous week they succumbed 5-40 against the champions St Austell. However before that, three consecutive wins pepped up Wellington’s season and their league position with a 24-15 home win against Wadebridge Camels and a trouncing of North Petherton by 72-27 with a welcome away win 27-14 at Chard. After this game, Wellington still have to fulfil their final fixture at home to Sidmouth next week.

We can expect a large contingent of Wellington supporters at College Way today and we hope that they enjoy themselves and we wish Wellington continued success in Regional 2 South West.

Bridgwater & Albion have been somewhat chastened in their last two outings against Cornish opposition. First Truro made the most of their chances in winning 57-7 here and last Saturday a buoyant Wadebridge Camels side overwhelmed us 85-19. Nevertheless, this was yet another spirited performance by a much changed Albion XV and a side which suffered from injuries during the game and to score three tries of our own was a commendable return. Notwithstanding the fine display from the home side, Albion somewhat compounded their defeat by giving the opposition too many easy chances. Sadly yet again, the old adage of “do not kick the ball to the opposition” rang out. Under pressure and often deep in defence, our kicking out of hand gave a somewhat rampant Wadebridge back three all the chances they needed and they exploited them thoroughly. Bridgwater kicked out of hand 13 times during the game yet 10 of those went directly to the opposition and they scored 7 tries from the errant deliveries. Albion hit back after suffering an earlier bombardment of tries from the Cornishmen with Taylor Buller crossing twice – the first from a peel around the front of the line-out and the second from an excellent thrust from the base of the scrum. Tom Steer converted one. In the second half, as matters started to get out of hand on the scoreboard, Will Ryan neatly ran in down the left touchline to score with Steer again converted. Wadebridge and their supporters were full of praise for Albion’s spirit and sadly relegation probably to Western Counties West looms.

In this difficult season several Albion players have reached notable landmarks and three of those are outlined in these notes. Significantly, Roger Drabble is set to make his 150th appearance in the 1st XV over 20 years after his debut – a remarkable span – see the details by way of appropriate tribute. He is the scrum worker referred to in the heading. Jay Owens should achieve his club badge on his 75th appearance today; Will Kerry made his 50th appearance at Wadebridge last week; Karolis Urbonas made his 49th appearance in Cornwall but was sadly injured again; James Collings reached 70 appearances in that game and Tom Hopkins played his 45th match. All great experience for the players and indeed for the club generally and we hope that they all move on to many more appearances.

Despite the Rugby Football Union’s intentions of reducing travelling and making more games on a local basis, so next season we can anticipate trips to Penzance, Penryn, Bude, St Ives, Plymstock, Bideford and maybe Torquay Athletic. Our local derbies are likely to be against Wiveliscombe and Tiverton. We will soon see the composition of the leagues for next year and as covered elsewhere in these programme notes, this is not new ground for Albion as we suffered the same fate some 33 years ago but we rose up from that set back rather remarkably over the following few seasons.

It is only 11 March and yet the league programme ends. We are promised Cup competitions from RFU and the Papa John’s Cup draw is supposed to be announced immediately following these last matches. Teams who have entered (and we have) are guaranteed four matches – two home and two away before the competition goes to a knock-out basis. Somerset County RFU are also running a competition subject to sides deciding where they wish to play. So hopefully, there is more rugby football to be had and indeed seen at College Way over the next few weeks.

United Xv Run In To Remarkable Form

Our United XV which almost did not exist earlier in the season when we conceded four matches – has bounced back remarkably and they have produced some fine victories over the last few weeks – 29-0 at Wells II; 29-15 at Wiveliscombe; and last Saturday a 62-31 win over Hornets III avenging an earlier defeat. Perhaps the remarkable feature of these last two games is that our acting captain Shaun Mahoney has scored 11 tries – 4 at Wiveliscombe and 7 against Hornets. Your Scribe cannot recall anyone bettering 7 in one match for any of our sides. Despite the frequent changes caused by playing requirements up above, this side has now engendered an excellent spirit and clearly work for each other. If you add back the 20 points which we have conceded and also think that we may have secured a few wins in those matches, then our league position would be completely different and we would be knocking on the door of the top three. Let us hope that this inspiration will continue and the side still has one more match away to Huish Tigers to complete their programme – this may well come to a mid-week match at home – watch this space. Hopefully the enthusiasm will be a boost and mean that next season is eagerly anticipated.

WOMEN’S XV BOUNCE BACK

After suffering a heavy defeat at Dings Crusaders a few weeks ago, our Women’s XV came back in fine style to draw 19-19 at Devizes last Sunday. The side is due to face Dings at home tomorrow and also host Devizes here on 2 April.

Colts Xv Resurrected

Our outstanding Under 17 XV has now been revamped as a Colts XV and have been drawn in to the Somerset league system late on. However they have made excellent progress and last weekend beat Minehead Barbarians away 75-0 and are now due to meet Keynsham away in a play-off for further honours on 19 March with the winners likely to meet Hornets for the title. For some years now we have been waiting for the void between our junior and youth sections to be bridged with a Colts XV and we hope that this will be the time when matters are finally connected and to ensure a smooth transition for our younger players wishing to play in senior football.

Former Captain Lament

Today at Watchet a thanksgiving service has been held for our former captain Alan Woollam who passed away a few weeks ago. Alan was our captain in 1971/72 and spent 10 years with the club between 1970 and 1980 before joining Minehead Barbarians in view of the fact that he always lived in the West Somerset area. A full tribute appeared on the club’s website recently and is repeated here.

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB MOURNS THE DEATH OF FORMER CAPTAIN ALAN G WOOLLAM (1971/72)

Alan Woollam has recently passed away at the age of 74 after suffering ill-health over the last few years.

Alan hailed from Norfolk and attended Wymondham School before going on to Alsager Teachers Training College at Crewe in Cheshire where he qualified as a teacher. There, he met his wife Melanie and they both took up their first teaching positions in the Watchet/Minehead area with Alan at St Decumans Primary/Junior School in Watchet where he remained for the rest of his teaching career becoming Head Master after a short space of time.

Relocation meant that he joined Bridgwater & Albion at the start of the 1970/71 season and made his debut in our United XV v North Petherton on 17 September 1970 in a 24-6 win. He obviously impressed as a week later he made his 1st XV debut against Hampshire XV in a 32-15 win. That was the first of a long and consistent 1st XV career.

Alan proved to be a popular player both on and off the field and it was perhaps a surprise to him and others that be became captain of the 1st XV in just his second season in 1971/72. Albion were in transition from an experienced and strong side from the late 1960’s and the playing record of 14-2-26 reflected that position. However this season was a stepping stone for better things to come.

Alan appeared in our SCRFU Cup winning side against Old Redcliffians in 1972/73 when we won 15-9 after extra time and he was again in the side against the same opponents in 1976/77 in the final which was replayed as the sides drew 9-9 before Albion won the replay 18-9. In all, he made 327 1st XV appearances and played for Bridgwater & Albion up to the end of the 1979/80 season – a remarkably consistent run. He was belatedly capped in 2015 as the club had introduced caps for then players in 1995 and the situation of earlier qualifiers was rectified to honour a previous commitment.

Alan played on the flank and at No. 8 and occasionally second row and also as an emergency centre/wing –all of these duties being carried out with some aplomb and skills. Despite being just over 6 ft tall, he was not a great carrier of the ball but concentrated on what flankers then did – keeping the opposition half-backs quiet and to ensure that your own opposite numbers do not rule the roost. This he did with some uncanny play – even trickery and sleight of hand. Some opponents simply could not get to grips with his style or tactics and Albion took advantage of the numerous penalties which came our way without Alan being overpenalised himself.

Alan was always in the wars – more often suffering superficial cuts to his face and head – so much so that he holds the club record for visits to away A&E centres – many a time we had to call at the local hospital to pick him up after stiches or other treatment. However, he always made a remarkable recovery as his excellent record of appearances shows. This was due to him being able to maintain his form and enthusiasm for all of those years and particularly travelling from Watchet (normally in the company of Mike Rawle and Paul Lovatt) for training and playing.

Not unsurprisingly, he opted to join Minehead Barbarians for the 1980/81 season where his considerable Albion experience formed the basis of the blossoming of the local club into a useful outfit – he also captained the club and played on for several seasons and held his attachments to the club throughout.

Alan Woollam was a fine clubman and player who always gave his all – he was an excellent teammate and a true spirited rugby footballer and will be long remembered in the annals of the club.

Bridgwater & Albion sends its sincere condolences to Melanie and her family and with thanks for a splendid career.