News from the grassroots rugby scene.
Second will entertain first as Walcot take on Sherborne here at Albert Field on Saturday 21st March in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South | Photo © Richard Briggs
Walcot face arguably their most important match of the season on Saturday 21st March – a home clash with Sherborne in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South.
The Dorset All Blacks will come to Albert Field at the top of the table – but only just.
Walcot hold second place and are level on points with Sherb, both sides having won 15 and lost two of their 17 matches and clocked up 72 points.
Points difference separates them. Walcot have a points difference of 233 but the men from Gainsborough Park boast a points difference of 492, aided significantly by enormous wins over Chippenham 2nd XV (98-5 at home and 81-5 away), Swindon (79-0 at home) and Trowbridge 2nd XV (64-0 at home).
But as Swanage & Wareham proved, Sherb can suffer a taste of their own medicine. The Swans were 57-0 victors when the teams met at Bestwall in October.
Walcot have a point to prove this weekend, having been crushed 59-12 when they visited the Dorset All Blacks on Saturday 29th November.
Although there will still be four rounds of matches to go in the competition after the 21st March fixtures are completed, neither Walcot nor Sherborne will be considering defeat in Lansdown as an option as they chase the championship.
Kick-off at Albert Field will be at 2.30pm.
Avon were due to visit Clevedon in Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset on Saturday 14th March but handed the seasiders a walkover.
It was only the second time in the Bath-based club’s history that they had conceded a match.
A statement from the Hicks Field outfit said: “For only the second time in their history, Avon were forced to concede a match by handing Clevedon a walkover in this previously rearranged fixture.
“The main problem arose from the inability to field a qualified front row due to the absence of six potential props through injury or unavailability.
“Thoughts of playing the match as a friendly were also thwarted by insufficient numbers to meet the minimum threshold.
“This was primarily due to the weekend originally being regarded as a blank, with the players taking the opportunity to make alternative arrangements.
“It seems that this may be a common theme in Counties 2 Somerset [on 14th March] as three out of the four rearranged matches were also deemed to be walkovers.”
Seventh-placed Avon are due to visit bottom club Castle Cary on Saturday 21st March.
Local results for Saturday 14th March:
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Clevedon walkover v Avon, Keynsham 2nd XV 7 Oldfield Old Boys 36.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avonvale 5 Frome 2nd XV 66.
Local fixtures for Saturday 21st March:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Walcot v Sherborne.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Minehead Barbarians v Oldfield Old Boys, Castle Cary v Avon.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down v Pewsey Vale.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Combe Down 2nd XV v Bath Saracens, Warminster v Avonvale.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Old Sulians v Nailsea & Backwell 2nd XV.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV v Cheddar Valley, Walcot 2nd XV v Imperial 2nd XV.
Local fixtures for Sunday 22nd March:
Women’s Championship South 1: Trojans v Bath.
Women’s NC 1 South West (East): Bath United v Melksham.
