Bridgwater and Albion 20 Taunton Warriors 19

So close and yet so far away.  There were many opportunities for the Warriors to have won this game and they started with great pace and ability but with less than 5 minutes on the clock they conceded the first of their nineteen penalties in the game.  This gave Bridgwater their first possession from winning the lineout from kicking the penalty to touch.  From the lineout they mauled the ball to score their first try. The Warriors were pressing the Bridgwater line and nocked the ball on.  From the scrum Bridgwater number eight picked up the ball and went for the breakout.  A superb tackle from the Warriors stopped the move but the referee decided the tackle was high, yellow carded the Warriors player and Bridgwater were able to clear their line.  This challenged the Warriors scrum and with a man short they were pushed off the ball and yet another penalty, kick to touch, lineout maul and Bridgwater scored their second try.  With both conversions missed this was not an unassailable lead and the Warriors dug deep. Restored to fifteen players  the Warriors began to win more ball and the strength and power together with electrifying pace from the backs, only some outstanding last-minute defence from Bridgwater kept the Warriors out. It was Bridgwater who scored the third try from a missed tackle their wing was able to race in and score in the corner.  From a superb restart by Andrew Humberstone Freddie Elliot chased and won the aerial battle for the ball. after several cycles Andrew Humberstone made the break and was hauled down inches short of the line.  The Warriors recycle only to be penalised for allegedly going over the top. Bridgwater were able to clear their line and win the lineout.  Again, the Warriors penalised at the lineout so Bridgwater are now able to kick to the corner and so from winning the lineout another maul and their fourth and try bonus point on the stroke of halftime.

The resurgence came on forty-eight minutes when from some superb running from the centres Alex O’Brien was able to support and score the try. Whilst the Warriors continued to try to play their expansive rugby which on the day was their greatest asset, they always seemed to be thwarted by conceding a penalty.  No infringement could be attributed to the Warriors second try when Freddie Elliot broke from within his own half, stepped out of tackles and passed to Henry Webb who was then able to pass back to Freddie for him to score the try.  Twenty-six minutes left surely the Warriors were now going to pull this game back.    Several opportunities came and went and so often conceding another penalty took the pressure off Bridgwater. With just 5 minutes left Freddie goes in for his second try and with the conversion the Warriors were just one point adrift.  The old heads from Bridgwater knew just what to do by keeping things tight and denying any possession to the Warriors.  And so, the game finished with a one-point win to Bridgwater.

Nothing should be taken away from this team and the talent and effort they put into this game which they could have won.  With the first team away at Barnstaple this week you will be able to come to Summerfield Stadium and watch this exciting Warriors team play against Gordano.  In the first game of the season, they narrowly lost to Gordano so they will be looking to reverse that situation at home.  Your support will be very welcome not only for the team but for hospitality at the club as well

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