RUGBY: Bridgwater & Albion lose out to leaders Launceston

THIS high octane top-of-the-table clash featuring 14 tries ended with visitors Launceston extending their lead at the summit, writes Richard Walsh.

Earlier in the day, a ceremony was held in the Memorial Garden for club stalwart John Innals who passed away this year, followed by a lunch hosted by the Friends of Bridgwater & Albion, with 220 members and guests.

Come the match, the visitors, unusually playing in orange shirts, took the lead in the fourth minute when Andy Knight went over for an unconverted try.

The lead was extended when an expansive Bridgwater pass across the backs was intercepted, which resulted in a try for Martin Kneebone that Glenn Coles converted.

The hosts bounced back quickly and, almost from the restart, Stuart Heal scored a try on the left which he then converted.

On 12 minutes, deft handling down the left led to Launceston scoring another try, Will Morton’s touchdown converted by Coles.

Launceston kept coming forward and, on 20 minutes, Torin Clarke scored the first of his three tries, converted by Coles, to make it 26-7 after the first quarter.

There was no easing up from the Cornish side, who went further ahead when 19-year-old prop Chae Jenkins charged over from close range, Coles converting.

Albion refused to lay down and quickly switched play to the opposite end where, on 33 minutes, Ollie Dunn scored on the left, Heal converting.

On the stroke of half time, the visitors scored their sixth try when Clarke touched down close to the left-hand corner, which made it 38-14 to Launceston at the break.

TWO TRIES: Will Monro looks to break through for Albion. Pic: Steve Richardson

Despite the 24-point deficit, a refreshed Albion side now took the game to the visitors.

However, once again they came unstuck when going forward; a pass was intercepted and Clarke ran in unopposed.

Home skipper Dunn was to the fore and, following a tapped penalty, he scrambled over for a try which Heal converted to keep his side in it.

As ever, Launceston kept up the pressure, and on the hour Morton went over for an unconverted try.

Bridgwater’s Will Monro looked threatening throughout the match and going into the last 10 minutes he went over in the corner.

Launceston responded with a penalty from Coles, but the hosts were not done yet; Monro started off a move down the left which he duly rounded off with a try in the right corner which Heal converted.

But Launceston had the last say when Morton went over and Coles added the extras.

Bridgwater & Albion: Michael Greenslade, Adam Greenslade, Craig Coleman, Ethan Trebble Westlake, Dan Kemmish, Taylor Buller, Ollie Dunn (c), Wayne Sprangle, Tom Fourier, Stuart Heal, Richard Bright, James Collings, Rob Gurnett, Kyran Devitt, Will Monro. Replacements: Craig Blyde, George Sluman, Brian Webb.

SOME of the former Bridgwater & Albion players who attended the game with Launceston on Saturday. Pictured, from left, are: back row - Jerry Wallis, Nick Sealey, Dave Brommee, Derrick Buller, Nigel Gulliford, Boris Baldwin, Keith Wilson, Jim Trowbridge; front - Nev Windsor, Duncan Wardle, Nick Edmonds, Simon Ball, Tony Harris, Jerry Wardle.