RFU Somerset 1 - Results & Table

See bottom of page for match reports.

Date First XV Loc. Score Second XV Loc. Score
29/8 Telephones (One game) A Wednesday night
1/9 Dave Reeves Memorial H
8/9 Broad Plain * A L 18v10 Broad Plain II * H
15/9 Burnham on Sea * H L14v33 St Bernadettes III A
22/9 Keynsham II * A W13v24 Bishopstone III * H
29/9 Crewkerne * H W45v8
6/10 Imperial * A L25v8 Imperial III * H
13/10 National Vase Keynsham Vets H
20/10 Combe Down * H W18v16 Aretians III * A
27/10 Martock * A W5v50 Old REds IV * H
3/11 Nailsea&Backwell * H W15v7 Nailsea&Backwell III * A
10/11 North Petherton * A L19v10 Frampton Cotterell III * H
17/11 Somerset Cup
24/11 Old Culverhaysians * H W14v0
1/12 Wiveliscombe * A L25v5 Old Ashtonians * H
8/12 Combination Vase
15/12 North Petherton * H W15v12 Bishopston III * A
23/12 TBA
26/12 INTER CLUB GAME
29/12 Telephones (One game) H
5/1 Nailsea & Backwell * A L12v0 Nailsea & Backwell III * H
12/1 Combination Vase
19/1 Martock * H c/off
26/1 Combe Down * A L26v10
2/2 Bristol Harlequins II A Aretians III * H
9/2 Imperial * H L3v12 Imperial III * A
16/2 Crewkerne * A W3v5 St Bernadettes III H
23/2 BAC A
1/3 Keynsham II * H Old Reds IV * A
8/3 Burnham on Sea * A
15/3 TBA
22/3 BAC (One game)
29/3 Broad Plain * H Broad Plain II * A
5/4 Bristol Harlequins II H
12/4 Wiveliscombe * H Frampton Cotterell III * A
19/4 Old Culverhaysians * A
26/4 TOUR
3/5 TBA
* League game * Meriit table



2007/8 Match Reports




26th January 2008 - Bristol Barbarians II's v Nailsea & Backwell III's - won 17 v 15

Lots of phone calls eventually secured us with 12 players and Nailsea & Backwell were kind enough to let us use their 3 subs for an even game. A few old faces turned up to play with Alvin Dube back in the centre after a 2 year absence alongside Phil (Campbells brother in law) making a start for the first time in 7/8 years and their mate Joe on the wing who had never played rugby before.

20 minutes of stalemate was broken in the 1st half by the Nailsea & Backwell backs breaking through some loose tackling to score in the corner, conversion missed. Then a deep kick from N&B was picked up by Joe on the left wing and he sprinted 60 yards, evading a last ditch tackle by the N&B fullback to score in the corner on debut. Conversion missed. N&B made it over our line once more but a great tackle from Sideshow got himself under the player and held the ball up stopping a certain try and the teams went in at half time 5-5. The second half started after oranges, a good team talk from captain Dan Hobbs and we looked forward to taking the game to N&B down the hill, however two quick unconverted tries from them left us at 15-5 down with 20 minutes to play. Despite some great chances and barracking runs by Steve Hayes the tries weren’t coming and when Paul Alford touched down in the corner we thought an upset might be on, however linesman Mark Belton adjudged him to be in touch so the try was disallowed.

Further sustained pressure in the N&B 22 eventually led to a 5 metre scrum from which Alvin popped up on the right wing to crash over with a spectacular dive worthy of Olympic gold, again conversion missed and with 2 minutes left the score was 15-10 to N&B. The kick was received and a number of infringements gave the Barbs a couple of penalties, taken quickly and the forwards linked well with the backs to rumble back down into the N&B 22 once more for a last ditch effort. Some great rucking eventually released the ball and a clever cross field kick pass from Brendan to Paul Alford let the fly half charge towards the line before popping an inside pass to Phil to touch down with a couple of N&B tacklers on his back 5 yards to the left of the posts in the last move of the game. Up stepped Paul Alford who coolly slotted over the winning conversion, Final Score 17-15 to the Barbs.

Thanks to all who turned out and especially for Sideshow and Tony hand for stepping into the front row alongside veteran Steve Hayes who had a fantastic game and the 3 N&B backs for letting all have a great game. Please all make an effort to be available as we must put out 2 teams every week for the club to continue improving.
Report by G.Adams.



26th January 2008 - Combe Down v Bristol barbarians - lost 26 v 10

It was a much changed side from the team that played at the Barbarians in October and it showed in the result.

In 1986 the most popular name for boys in the Bath area must have been "mate" as Coombe Down seemed to have a few players with that name on the pitch.

It was a closer encounter than the score line suggested with both packs playing well and evenly matched, but it was out in the backs where mate, mate and mate were playing that the difference was seen.

Mate scored most of Coombe Downs points.

Tries from Craig Skuse the Barbarians number 8 kept the Barbarians in touch but they could not turn some good possession into points.

Final Score Coombe Down 26 BBRFC 10
Report by B.Lions.




19th January 2008 - Bristol Barbarians II’s v St Mary’s Old Boys - lost 17 v 34


This game was played in the worst conditions possible and the 2nd team pitch may take time to recover from the swamp it turned into.  Playing uphill in the 1st half the Barbarians never seemed to get on the attack and some loose tackling stretched St Mary’s into a 27-0 half time lead with some great handling from their young backs. The second half was a different affair altogether and the Barbarians seemed renewed after their half time oranges and took charge playing down the slope. Richard Hucker scored a fantastic individual try, breaking through tackles and using his speed to jink over the line. This was soon followed by scrum half Jason Cocking who spotted a gap and sprinted 40 yards outrunning a number of would be cover tacklers to touch down. St Mary’s countered with a converted try of their own before Brendan Murphy took advantage of some great scrummaging from the Barbarians pack for a push over try in the last few minutes, converted by Jason Cocking. Final score of 34 -17 to St Mary’s but well done the Barbs on winning the second half 17-7 and giving St Marys a great game in the mud.
Report by Gerry Adams.



12th January 2008 - Barbarians I/II’s v Keynsham Vets/Colts - won 26 v 8

Tries for Dan Chidgey - a storming 80 yard roll down field, Warning, do not get in this guys way as per Keynsham Number 10 who was upended! Also Scott Badman, great backs move sees the veteran winger score in the corner, Paul Alford upon his return to the club from Kevball, and Rich Hucker again after some good passing from the backs. Billy the Fish retains his 75% kicking accuracy for the season with 3 out of 4 conversions. Scouser Anthony shouldda scored in the last move of the game after some fascinating play by the maestro Murphy but 1st try jug nerves got to him and he knocked on. Well done all who played and please come again!

Report by Gerry Adams.



5th January 2008 - Nailsea & Backwell v BBRFC - lost 12 v 0

Bristol Barbarians lost a close encounter with league leaders Nailsea and Backwell. Playing down the slope and with the wind in the first half the Barbarians could not score any points which would have made such a difference to the outcome. Captain and (usual) No8 Craig Skuse playing at inside centre with Danny Chidgey outside, did exceptionally well in defence in the first half as did Hooker Gary Honeyfield. In a game which both sides tried to play rugby, countless handling errors due to the poor weather conditions made life very difficult for everyone and there was no real continuity, any attacking play from either side was invariably spoiled by knock-ons.

Half -time 0-0

The second half was much the same as the first however Nailsea used the slope and wind much better in the second half and started to dominate the possesion. It was from a Barbarians error at the scrum that they scored their first try. A planned move went wrong and the Nailsea scrum half kicked the ball through into the twenty two, they recycled the ball well and scored to the left of the posts. Conversion attempt missed 5-0.

Nailsea scored their second try after some good work from their forwards who mauled the ball a long way before a break in the centre and quick ball resulted in another try which was this time converted.

The Barbarians continued to defend well and despite more pressure from the home side held them at bay.

Final score Nailsea and Backwell 12 Bristol Barbarians 0

A final note to the loud mouthed supporter from Nailsea , please do not continue to bad mouth young rugby players running the line as the flag will not be up your nose next time but somewhere more painful this is a poor reflection on your club and fellow members who stood and applauded the barbarians off at the end of the game.

Report by B.Lions.




1st December 2007 -  Wiveliscombe v BBRFC - lost 25 v 5

Another tale of a game of two halves (as is the like with rugby matches) BBRFC were playing with the slope and the wind in the first half and although they dominated the possesion, could not turn it into points. Their only points of the half came from a break by No 8 Craig Skuse, this saw him take out a couple of defenders before slipping a pass to new winger Sean Lee who scored in the corner, conversion attempt missed. Wiveliscombe's points came from an offside decision in front of the posts which was converted.

Half Time BBRFC 5 - Wiveliscombe 3

The second half began in terrible fashion for the Baa Baas as Wiveliscombe received the kick off and with some slick hands and poor tackling scored under the posts. Soon after some more poor defending let them in again.

The game was slipping away and some heads began to drop and a couple more tries saw the home team coast to a comfortable victory.

Report by Colin Chick.



24th November 2007 - BBRFC v Old Culverhaysians - won 14 v 0

It was a tale of two halves, Old Cs playing down the slope and with the wind in the first half squandered some good scoring opportunities by kicking to touch when kicking for posts should have been chosen, these opportunities came about from a high penalty count by the Barbarians, not only in the opposition half but their own as well. This also meant that when they did go forward they found themselves 25-30 yards back down the pitch as the Old Cs kicker found his range early on and found touch regularly. However due to the poor decision making by Old Cs and a resolute defence by the Baa Baas the score at half time was 0-0.

The Barbarians pack then became the dominant factor in the second half, and watched by club coach Frank Woodman put the Old Cs pack under pressure. It was from a scrum that the Barbarians scored their first try, number 8 and captain Craig Skuse picking up from the back of a scrum on the 22 crashing his way through a number of tackles before scoring near the posts, this was converted by Lee Davies to make the score 7-0.

The Barbarians were on top of a game which saw various handling errors from both sides, but with the Barbarians pack in charge the Old Cs backs were not getting enough clean ball to put any real pressure on the Barbarians line. As it was with 15 minutes to go fly half John Bane chased his own up and under and with the young Old Cs full back making the cardinal error of allowing the ball to bounce he collected his own kick and scored by the right upright, this try was again converted by Lee Davies, score 14-0.

The final 10 minutes were played in the Old Cs half and the Barbarians kept them their to see them to another victory.
Report by Colin Chick.