Bridgwater 19 - Taunton 52 (Match Report)

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Taunton were clearly in the mood for their latest pre-season fixture away to fierce local rivals Bridgwater and Albion as they ran out 19-52 victors.

For many years Taunton had lived in the shadow of their close neighbours until the fortunes of each club saw league standings reversed in recent times. Despite the current one league difference between the two the result was expected to be much closer than was finally reflected, ensuring Taunton continue their pre-season campaign with a 100% winning record going into the imminent 2011-12 league campaign.

Taunton started the match brightly, with Sam Alford commanding the opening exchanges in his first start in the number 9 jersey since joining from Bristol. His initial break from a scrum penetrated the home defence, who had not had a chance to settle before Taunton’s former Bridgwater prop Alec Chase scored two tries in the opening ten minutes; both coming from well worked drives from the lineout with Tony Yapp adding the extras.

Matt Goddard was next to score, adding points to the board after a break by Sean Fox from within his own 22 metre line. Goddard was the recipient of the ball on the half way line and his run evaded the attempting tacklers to see the centre go over a for try near the posts, making the conversion a formality for Yapp.

Bridgwater then finally got their hands on the ball, forcing Taunton to defend their third of the pitch, but were unable to breach the wall in front of them spurning their only real chance as the first quarter came to an end. Former Taunton player and skipper Matt Hastie rallied his charges and Bridgwater competed more aggressively at the breakdown, providing their back line with the platform to work from.

However the Bridgwater back line were unable to get in behind their opponents and it was instead Taunton who capitalised to increase their lead with another try. This time it was the ever-impressive Reuben Haile running a nice arc and outstripping the covering defence to go over with Yapp once again adding the extras with his trusty right foot.

Bridgwater gained the next score as a result of a loose pass in the Taunton midfield, allowing the home forwards to punch the ball forward through a series of drives. A break by the home half backs from a tap penalty followed by two missed tackles in the Taunton midfield saw the Bridgwater fly half add seven points to the board with a try under the posts followed by his successful conversion.

Greg Charlton, Sean Fox and Dean Mendes-Taylor worked tirelessly around the park and at the breakdown, whilst Alford continued to command the game alongside Yapp who regularly released his back line in attack as the visitors looked to reassert their control on the game.

The experience of Jason Luff helped to resettle the youngsters around him, with Goddard and Haile looking impressive every time the ball was in their hands and both going close to adding to their tally for the evening as the first half came to a close with the score at 7-28 in favour of Taunton.

The second half got underway with changes to both sides but the intensity remained the same. Winger Jack Claydon was the next name on the score sheet after a break by Luff released him into space wide out on the left and the youngster sprinted his way in, batting off the would be tacklers to increase Taunton’s lead. Yapp could be forgiven for seeing his conversion miss from the left touchline.

Alec Chase then secured his hat trick against his former club, going over again from a well worked catch and drive from the line out before Yapp found his kicking form once again to add the extras.

Despite a well-worked unconverted score wide out on the left for the Bridgwater wing, the young side continually seemed unable to penetrate the staunch Taunton defence and gain any real momentum. They continued to compete and tried everything to remain in the game but just when they looked dangerous their inexperience would often be their undoing and they were either pressed into rushing things or get in each others way, resulting in both forced and unforced errors.

However, Bridgwater’s dogged perseverance did reap reward with another score to reduce the deficit by another seven points. The Bridgwater outside centre crashed over cutting a nice line onto a quickly taken tap penalty with the fly half adding the extras from the conversion.

To their credit they continued to press, trying all manner of things to unlock the visiting defence, but as often when trying too hard the mistakes crept in and handed the ascendancy back to Taunton. A scrappy end to the game was wrapped up under the floodlights with Taunton grabbing another two unconverted tries though replacement hooker Rob Beddard shortly followed by Luff deservingly getting on the score board, bringing the score up to 19-52 in front of a healthy Friday night crowd.

The younger and more inexperienced Bridgwater side should take heart despite the score line and look like a side that will mature together and should compete well in their pending league campaign. They will learn much from this experience and that of their more seasoned campaigners, which will hopefully help to provide their club with a bright future on the field.

For Taunton, they continued to impress their coaches and supporters with another assured and ever-improving performance in their pre-season campaign. They will know there is still work to do and they will continue to come together and develop as a squad whilst looking forward to entertaining Dings Crusaders at Hyde Park on Saturday, 27th August.

Report By: Patrick Smidmore