Imperial 33 - 12 Nailsea & Backwell
Nailsea, who travelled to Bristol with six players out of position but hoping to reverse the earlier loss against an improving Imp’s side, started lively enough.
Once again the visitors penalty count started to rise and with it so did Imperials score line with a try out wide making the early score 7–0. N&B then conceded a soft try wide out the on the other side of the park, making the score 14–0. Nailsea could have found themselves three tries behind if not for a try saving tackle from Ryan Love.
On 30 minutes Love then contributed at the other end as he nearly scored his own from a chip over kick and gather. Unfortunately, he adjudged to have knocked on. This galvanised the Nailsea players who produced an exciting passage of play. With Love again running at the defence and finding gaps, Elswood kicked to the corner. The visitors were able to steal the resulting lineout ball. From the resultant maul, Reed picked up and dove over, with the try converted by Jones making the score 14–7.
An injury to Elswood forced further positional changes with Murray coming into the three quarters. With Nailsea now pushing hard at the Imp’s line, Joe Reed found his way through only to be brought down illegally. Imp’s were penalised for this ungentlemanly conduct, however Nailsea were unable to break through a solid defence. Then, against the run of play before the half time whistle, Imperial broke from their own scrum to run in their third try making the score 21–7.
Nailsea had to soak up pressure on the re-start until Reed again found touch in Imp’s 22. A bulldozing 30 yard run by Caswell excited the travelling supporters, but couldn’t break down the home defence. Both sides probed each other and the visitors had chances but the line out went horribly wrong.
Finally Nailsea Wing, Sam Bigley, chased his own kick to dive down out wide to make it 21–12.
Ross Pearce, playing his first game this season, then won turnover ball resulting in a touch down but the referee denied the try for earlier crossing.
On the half hour Imp’s extended their lead to 26–12.
A controversial decision then went Imperials way after the home side appeared to have taken out the Nailsea Scrum Half illegally, but the visitors were penalised for off side! The resultant kick to touch found the home side deep in Nailsea’s 22 from which they scored to make things 33-12.
From the restart Corey Dougal, on debut this season for the firsts, chased hard tapping the ball back to the forwards but the final whistle blew before Nailsea could add to their tally.
