Round-up of the grassroots rugby action – Saturday 28th February.
Walcot remain one point clear at the top of Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South after a tremendous win here at Swanage & Wareham on Saturday 28th February | Photo © Richard Briggs
Walcot and Sherborne are pulling away from the other title challengers in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South.
The table-topping Black & Whites remain a point clear of the Dorset All Blacks after beating former leaders Swanage & Wareham 33-19 at Bestwall on Saturday 28th February.
And while the Albert Field crew were taking the honours in Wareham, Sherborne overcame third-placed Salisbury 24-8 at Castle Road to go eight points ahead of the Wiltshire outfit after 16 rounds of matches.
Walcot can put a further dent in Salisbury’s challenge when the sides meet in Lansdown on Saturday 7th March. And then a fortnight later, Sherb will be the visitors to Bath as March looks to be make-or-break time for the Black & Whites.
Kicking deep from the start, the Swans sought to put Walcot under pressure by camping on their try-line. But Dave Beal turned over the ball.
Guests’ captain Ed Harris produced the next turnover, in a line-out, to set in motion the first try, scored by Jack Newman. Alex Barnsley converted.
A penalty, after the Swans’ full-back had become isolated in front of the posts, soon put Walcot 10-0 ahead.
The next Walcot try, in the 16th minute and also converted, saw Kenzi Rawlings cut a straight line after being set up by Barnsley.
From the restart, Gabriel Moore bagged the third Walcot try, selling an outrageous dummy and sidestepping the full-back to make the score 22-0.
As the Somerset team chased the bonus-point touchdown, Moore was held up after a chip from Barnsley who was soon bundled into touch close to the try-line.
However, the Swans upped their game and responded with two tries – one converted – to cut the deficit to 10 points.
Barnsley booted another penalty to leave the Black & Whites 25-12 in front at the break.
Swanage began the second half well but Barnsley punished them with some monstrous wind-assisted kicks.
And Harris set up Ieuan Watkins to score a beautiful try.
At 30-12 down, the Swans knew they had to do something quickly if they were to get back into the match.
Their cause was seemingly helped by three yellow cards for Walcot. But the situation inspired the Black & Whites, and only one home try – converted – was scored while the travellers were shorthanded.
A spokesman for Walcot said: “The rest of the second half moved on with wise leadership and replacements being made, to show that it was an 18-man effort.
“Ollie Ellis, Liam Hollis and Simon Sriphak made dynamic interchanges to maintain a healthy equilibrium in the team.
“The back row of Harry Williams, Jack Newman and Ed Harris worked fantastically as a unit, providing strength and advancement at every opportunity.
“Pacey Skyrme and Jock McLellan were silent and deadly in the engine room.
“And in their best display yet, the back three of Gab Moore, Fin Dewar and Kenzi Rawlings were sublime. Each one seemed to have wings on their feet as they tore the opposition apart.
“Alex Barnsley added another three points and the game drew to a close with the Swans desperately searching for two bonus points.”
Avon played a full match for the first time since mid-January when they hosted table-toppers Burnham-on-Sea on Saturday 28th February.
The men from Hicks Field started a game against Imperial a week earlier but it was abandoned because of an injury to one of the visitors.
The fixture against Burnham went the full distance but the Sedgemoor outfit raced to a 66-27 victory, Avon remaining in sixth place in the standings.
However, the first 15 minutes were fairly even. Burnham scored two tries but the home side replied with a Ben May touchdown and a Rob Fitch penalty.
Then the Sedgemoor XV unleashed an avalanche of points with some mesmerising running and support play, albeit assisted by some poor one-on-one Avon tackling.
Courtesy of another four tries – all scored under the posts – the visitors enjoyed a 40-8 lead at half time.
When Burnham followed this up with another four exhilarating tries from their dangerous back line to open up a 66-8 advantage with 25 minutes remaining, Avon were left staring down the barrel of a potentially huge defeat.
But the Black & Ambers showed great character to tighten up their defence to stop Burnham scoring again.
And with Will Hayward leading the way up front and Fitch and Patrick Ridley posing threats in midfield, Avon started to win more possession and put together some attacking bursts.
Despite losing prop Liam Ridley with a dislocated shoulder, Avon scored 19 unanswered points.
Ben Hurd touched down twice from powerful drives after Rhys van den Handel secured good line-out possession.
This left Avon chasing what had appeared an unlikely bonus point – and they achieved that target when, in the final minute, they scored their fourth try, Ollie Flight sniping up the blindside and dotting down.
Two second-half conversions from Fitch completed Avon’s points tally.
Combe Down, the Counties 2 Tribute Dorset & Wilts North top dogs, were handed a walkover by scheduled visitors Calne on Saturday 28th February.
The Down are 12 points ahead of second-placed Westbury with six matches remaining.
Calne were unable to field a front row so conceded the league fixture, the teams instead playing a friendly.
Walcot 2nd XV took only 13 men to Cheddar Valley for their Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North game on Saturday 28th February and were beaten 50-5 by the league leaders who loaned their guests two players.
However, Walcot were reduced to 14 players after 20 minutes, when second row Lewis Campbell went off injured.
Jake Little scored the visitors’ consolation try. And Kieran Jackson made a fine performance on his Walcot debut.
Bath Ladies will return to action in Women’s Championship South 1 on Sunday 8th March – and they will do it at The Rec.
The Blue, Black & White will play at the stadium for the second time this season when, to celebrate International Women’s Day, they take on North Bristol (noon).
Maria Crowfoot, Bath Rugby’s women’s performance lead, said: “This game means a huge amount to us as a group and as a club.
“To have it on International Women’s Day makes it even more special.
“It’s about women performing on the highest stage in our city, in front of our community, and showing exactly where the women’s game is heading.
“And then you add in the fact that it’s a Westcountry derby against North Bristol, that brings real motivation for us to perform.”
Tickets, which cost £3, are available here.
Local results for Saturday 28th February:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Swanage & Wareham 19 Walcot 33.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Avon 27 Burnham-on-Sea 66, Chew Valley 2nd XV 33 Oldfield Old Boys 38.
Counties 2 Tribute Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down walkover v Calne.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avonvale v Frome 2nd XV – postponed, Melksham 3rd XV 26 Bath Saracens 34.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Bristol Telephone Area 25 Old Sulians 34.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Cheddar Valley 50 Walcot 2nd XV 5, Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV 22 Chew Valley 3rd XV 15.
Local fixtures for Saturday 7th March:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Walcot v Salisbury.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Oldfield Old Boys v Avon.
Counties 2 Tribute Dorset & Wilts North: Melksham 2nd XV v Combe Down.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Bath Saracens v North Dorset 2nd XV, Trowbridge 3rd XV v Combe Down 2nd XV.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Old Sulians v Midsomer Norton 2nd XV.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Walcot 2nd XV v Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV.
Local fixtures for Sunday 8th March:
Women’s Championship South 1: Bath v North Bristol (at The Rec).
Women’s NC 1 South West (East): Supermarine v Bath United.
