Nailsea and Backwell RFC 31 - 27 St Bernadettes
Nailsea suffered a big fright against St Bernadettes Old Boys after securing the bonus point before Half-Time.
The Ravens started well and from a 5m line out, Joe Murray scored from a drive. It was Captain, Harvey Flower, who got the next try after an enterprising kick from Second Row, Mike Frohlich, bounced fortuitously. Both conversions were missed.
Nailsea then went about blowing a hatful of chances from close range as their accuracy, which has been so good in the past few weeks, alluded them. Bernadettes adding a penalty to get their game going.
Try of the game came about after a turnover on their own tryline. The ball was shifted quickly to Wing, Ben Perfect, who drew the last defender and gave Centre, Ryan Love, a 50m run in which he gratefully accepted. Joe Reed converted.
Charlie Bircham-Davies then added another try after good pressure and Nailsea were finding their groove. Joe Reed again added the extras.
In the final play before Half-Time St Bernadettes added a well worked try which seemed to rattle Nailsea and sent them into the break 24-10 up with the bonus point in the bag.
Shortly after the break Ben Perfect rounded off a well worked series of phases, with Joe Reed adding the extras. At 31-10 Nailsea knew the game was won, but instead of driving home their advantage, they proceeded to give away penalty after penalty. St Bernadettes repeated kicked to the corner and scored two quick tries from good forward carries and weaving runs from their Full Back. With nearly the last play, Bernadettes scored again to make the final score 31-27 and left the Nailsea players feeling very dissapointed despite the full match points achieved.
Coach Tony Hill said, “in the past we might have lost a game like this. We weren’t at the races at all in the Second Half and if the players were honest they might have underestimated St Bernadettes. We will work hard at training this week, and try to be better next Saturday. We will have to be to compete with Minehead”.
Nailsea travel to Minehead next week.
