Bridgwater and Albion RFC v Devonport Services RFC

BRIDGWATER & ALBION v DEVONPORT SERVICES

SATURDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2021 Welcome Back Lunch

ALBION WILL WISH TO USE HOME ADVANTAGE TO GET OFF THE MARK WHILST DEVONPORT SEEK TO MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RECORD On this fourth Saturday of the 2021/22 season, we welcome our third visitors Devonport Services to College Way for the third consecutive season – ignoring the void 2020/21 part.

Having risen from Devon and Cornwall league in 2002/03 Devonport then spent 15 of the next 16 seasons in Western Counties West they reached the league level play off in 2017/18 when they defeated now fellow level 6 opponents Chew Valley to join South West 1 West. In the two seasons to date they have given a good account of themselves finishing eighth in 2018/19 with a 13-13 record and 70 points; they improved upon that in 2019/20 when in the revised table due to the stunted season they finished 4 th on 80.53 points just behind Thornbury and Lydney who in turn were well behind the champions Hornets. Their strength in these two seasons to date have been their home record as we will well know as Services defeated us at The Rectory 40-24 in October 2019 on a day memorable for Dan Kemmish’s 400th 1st XV appearance for Albion. Bridgwater however were able to turn tables in the January 2020 match winning 21-14. So far in this series the home side has won – let us hope that is an omen for today after Bridgwater & Albion’s difficult start to the season.

Devonport have opened the season well with home victories 33-5 against St Austell and last time out with a 28-12 win at Thornbury. They missed out in between as Stroud have withdrawn from the league but are now in 5th place with their two wins and 9 points.

Devonport Services have been traditional opponents for well over a century and it has been good to revive the series again after a long gap. We wish them well on their continuing progress.

At Crediton last Saturday Bridgwater & Albion stepped up both in strength and in performance but still went down 15-35 to the Devon side who simply made the most of their opportunities – seizing on Albion’s handling mistakes in particular. That sadly meant 3 defeats in our first 3 games and it is time to wrest the initiative back and make our home advantage count – after all there are only another 9 home games to come! Once again there were many changes of personnel last week with Wayne Sprangle making his first appearance of the season as was Garryn Basson in the centre; Louis Staples and Olly Davis were making their debuts at lock and flanker respectively; Dan Kemmish made his seasonal debut from the bench for his 413th appearance in all; Kyran Devitt returned to the Albion ranks after a brief sojourn at the seaside at the end of the 2019/20 season and he was making his 72 nd appearance with his badge award in sight. However Albion’s injury jinx did not go away as both Staples and Oskar White were side lined within the first half an hour. However Oskar

clearly did enough to impress the Crediton sponsors who nominated him as Albion’s man of the match! Albion have now used 29 players in their 3 matches amplifying the serious injury problems which we have experienced and there are still many players on the side lines and certainly filling the overworked physio’s room. Bridgwater were well in the hunt in the first half trailing 15-17 after considerable thrusts by White, Sprangle & Ethan, Trebble-Westlake and later Graham Slorance causing the home defence some problems. Sprangle and Gavin Knight plundered tries and Stuart Heal kicked a penalty and conversion. However in the second half the home side capitalised on Albion’s handling mistakes to score 3 further tries.

Our matches against Devonport Services have been generally tight and today’s match will again be a hard test for the home side who next week travel to Keynsham before another home encounter with Lydney.

SIDES AND ASIDES WELCOME BACK LUNCHEON Today the Club is hosting sponsors and other members by way of a welcome back to Rugby Football and in particular for the 2021/22 season. The Club is highly dependent upon local support and appreciates the response of our sponsors some of whom have contributed to the Club regularly over many years. We hope that our guests will enjoy the occasion and the match and keep coming back for more.

UNITED XV – INTENDED START This weekend our United XV are due to play Wellington II in a game originally scheduled for last night. However this was in some considerable doubt due to the Club’s exceptional and long injury list whish has accumulated during pre season and in the first 3 games. Albion have now used 29 players in their 1st XV matches and this has naturally taken a considerable toll on our United XV. It is a question at present of watch this space as players return from injury and further progress is made.

NEXT MATCHES ON THIS GROUND Saturday 2 October United XV v Cheddar Valley

Kick off 3.00 p.m.

Saturday 9 October 1st XV v Lydney

Kick off 3.00 p.m.

The weekend of 16 October is a void weekend for both 1st XV and 2nd XV. Saturday 23 October United XV v Keynsham II

Kick off 3.00 p.m.

Friday 29 October 1st XV v North Petherton

Kick off 7.30 p.m.

Home Team: 1. Matt Ranson – Kindly Sponsored by Shirley Stacey 2. Gavin Knight – Kindly Sponsored by Aspen Waite Services Ltd – 445151 3. Lewis Phillips – Kindly Sponsored by Richard Preece Mortgages - 07545 860805 4. Tom Hopkins 5. Louis Staples 6. Gareth Clwyd-Jones 7. George Sluman (VC) – Kindly Sponsored by Jane Heal in memory of John 8. Olly Davis 9. Jon Hill 10. Stuart Hill (C) – Kindly Sponsored by Connect Electrical - 652190 11. Thomas Croal 12. Wayne Sprangle 13. A J King 14. Dan Lang 15. Kyran Devitt 16. James Palmer 17. Shaun Mahoney – Kindly Sponsored by Aspen Waite Services Ltd – 445151 18. Oscar Tregenna

www.mylocumchoice.com https://www.18gin.co.uk/

https://www.aspenwaite.co.uk/

Away Team 1. Rikki Bentham 2. Sam Bennett 3. Greg Thomas 4. Andy Pond 5. Michael Rickard 6. Liam Jarvis 7. Joe Semple 8. Matthew Gregory (C) 9. Dylan Daley 10. Richard Goldsby-West 11. Matt Neyle 12. Alex Mawdsley 13. Harrison Mark Reburn 14. Sam Fincham 15. Rhys Williams