BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC v CLEVE
SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2025
KICK-OFF 14.30 PM Match Day Programme
Welcome to
Thank you for your continued support
SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2025
CLEVE VISIT ON CUSP OF LEAGUE TITLE WHILST ALBION HOPE TO PICK UP EARLIER FORM (IF THEY CAN REMEMBER BACK THAT FAR)
It seems a long time since our last appearance some five weeks ago at Taunton and even longer from our last home game a week before that at the end of January but such are the vagaries of the weather and of the leagues fixtures structure. However, back to action it is today and we welcome Cleve – fairly regular visitors over many years and congratulate them on their significant transformation from the 2023/24 season to their current outstanding record.
As with lots of clubs, Cleve have been moving up and down the channel between Levels 7 and 5 for many years. They reached the former in 2005/6 but came back to the latter for the 2021/22 season – remembering that the previous year was of course void. Last season, whilst they were just above the relegation zone (four clubs were relegated including Barton Hill who had defaulted) but with today’s game in mind, Cleve did the double over Bridgwater & Albion last season winning 27-24 at home in October 2023 and 25-23 here in February 2024. Whatever they have done between the two seasons, then most other clubs will wish to get their hands on the plan. Prior to 15 February, Cleve were unbeaten when Old Bristolians visited Hayfields and won 31-21. Both sides play in a similar style with the emphasis on running the ball so it is perhaps not surprising that their defeat would be against a similar outfit. However, they have recovered well from that and two weeks ago beat second placed Clifton II 22-19 at home before trouncing Gordon League 66-5 in Gloucester last week. In the match in Bristol in November, Cleve were rampant and ran away with it 68-24 and we were buoyed with the four try bonus. We wish Cleve well on the run in and hope that they achieve their well-deserved promotion. Mind you, after today’s game they do have tricky matches at home to Nailsea & Backwell and away at Old Redcliffians. We will do our best in next week’s rearranged game at Clifton II to assist.
Bridgwater & Albion have made a remarkable recovery in this second half of the season winning five of the six matches played and just going down in the other. In the last four games, we have turned over significant earlier defeats and scored 40 points each time with some cliff-hangers viz. the last minute penalty to pip Old Bristolians 48-25 and the last minute try at Taunton to win 40-33. Some of the scoreline reversals from the first games have been considerable. The question is, after five weeks being idle – not intentionally but due to two games postponed through weather conditions and the others in connection with gaps in the league season – can we pick up the earlier zest and form. However this means that the rest of our season is now filled in with the appropriate rearrangements, Gordon League visiting on 29 March and in turn we visit Chosen Hill on 12 April. In the past few weeks, we have been anxiously watching results of other games –bearing in mind the still unknown relegation conditions which largely depend on whom is coming down into this league for next season. We know that three clubs will be coming up. The easy answer as stated before is of course to keep winning and we hope that we will be back on song dusting off the non-playing cobwebs and hope to surprise another opponent with a strong turnaround.
Our other teams have largely been able to fulfil their fixtures in recent weeks with varying results but the momentum of having games to play and watch has been maintained, notwithstanding the 1st XV dilemmas on that count.
With the league season already extended to 12 April, there will be more action in the Papa John’s Cup where we await the winners of the Chard/Dorchester tie – it looks like we will be away on 26 April.
Today’s referee Charles St Aubyn is from Berkshire on an exchange arrangement. We welcome him to College Way and hope that he will also have an enjoyable afternoon.
UNITED XV KEEP PLAYING WITH VARYING RESULTS
Since the 1st XV last home game then the United has lost 15-34 at home to Caste Cary – the league leaders – and we are now striving for the runners up spot. However, such anticipation was dampened by both Wyvern where we lost 26-37 away and by Weston-super-Mare who beat us 24-22 here two weeks ago. There were recoveries against North Petherton 19-15 and last Saturday an overwhelming victory against Tor 89-14. Cam Hellier had a field day with four tries and twelve conversions (he missed one of the easier ones) to give him 44 points which ranks amongst the best individual scoring in a game in the club’s history. In addition, our young players up from last season’s Colts all produced excellent performances. Today, we are due to meet Wellington II here – the fixture having been reversed due to Wellington’s default in the earlier match. Our final two matches against Somerton and Cheddar are also at home.
BRIDGWATER & ALBION THIRDS TRUNDLE ON
Despite some team raising difficulties, the Dirtrackers have nobly driven on and have enjoyed some highscoring encounters against Minehead II losing 43-48 and going down 20-25 to Weston-super-Mare III. Our own default at Yeovil II costs us further points and it was a depleted side which visited Morganians last Saturday and went down heavily. Hopefully we can now regear to get to the end of the season and take stock. The Dirtrackers are celebrating their annual reunion at the club today and may be able to recruit some of our former players to boost the ranks. We hope that they have an enjoyable day. There are still three games to play with an away (Friday 21 March) and home (Saturday 29 March) double against Hornets IV before a trip to Wiveliscombe to conclude.
WOMEN’S XV TRIUMPH
Our Women’s XV defeated Bideford 58-10 here on 2 February – their only game of the month. There are still four matches to play – three at home to conclude the season.
YOUNG COLTS XV SHOW PROMISE
Our Colts XV has battled well this season against the odds and against generally older and bigger opponents. We have gone down heavily against our last two opponents – Taunton and North Petherton – but shown considerable spirit which will hopefully gather the side together for next season when the experience of playing together and against better teams ought to come to the fore. The lads should perhaps be inspired by the progress of several of last season’s Colts in our senior sides this season as amplified by the display of some of those in our United XV last week.
