Team: T.Thie, S.Johns, W.Cooper, A.Vailes, R.Trinnick, D.Hawkes, D.Filby, B.Stone, J.Morgan, T.Lisney, J.Pearce, W.McMillan(c), S.Barnes, J.Shopland, D.Rawle. Reps: B. Ford, R.Hughes, B.Littleton, D.Hand, H.Russell

After well-attended training sessions in the week and a run through on Saturday Clevedon went to Weston for this Somerset cup semi final on Sunday with a sneaking feeling inside them. They have a good tradition in the cup.

Though some thought the "Might " of Bridgwater would steamroller this side, which has fought to keep its South West One status admirably all season. Well, had it not been for missed first up tackles Clevedon may well have been in another Somerset Cup final. The determination and passion and on occasions, quality was there for all to see.

From the whistle it was clear this would be a contest. A high ball caught by McMillan saw Morgan take a pass at full speed, the outcome Bridgwater's large loose head prop Bryant sat squarely on the floor. The ruck that followed saw footwork Wayne Sleep would have been proud of as Clevedon tried to put the ball wide from Filby's quick service. This was the start of a physical confrontation that lasted for about twenty minutes.

Once the dust had settled, the anticipated steam roller appeared in the shape of Soolefai - a big Samoan centre three quarter. The new combination in midfield of Cooper and Vailes, found him hard to put down and in fairness so did the rest of the Clevedon team and most of National League Three this season.

His power created space for others to run into and Clevedon found themselves fifteen points down with no score of their own on the board. The tenacious pick and go rugby Clevedon tried to play then produced a couple of penalties and Hawkes in quick succession, landed two good kicks from about 35metres either side of the pitch. The Clevedon outside half was to keep his range finder on all afternoon and demonstrated the benefits of an effective goalkicker.

Bridgwater were finding it hard in some of the set piece areas and the scrummage was no exception. The Clevedon front row were very determined, Morgan showing his maturity and Ben Stone as he has done with all comers this season, caused problems for the Bridgwater loose head who did not enjoy his afternoons work. He would later prove a thorn in the side for Bridgwater.

At the lineouts both sides won their ball and Clevedon looked very sharp on occasions with Shopland and McMillan letting us know how hard they can work with lots of movement to win good clean ball in set pieces as well as around the paddock.

One of the highlights of the game came about five minutes before half time. A set piece call from a line out saw a young debutant named Trinnick, come in from the left wing onto a long pass from Hawkes. Running outside the Clevedon centres, he cut straight between the Bridgwater centres. With a back row coming from his left and the full back still to beat, he accelerated away from him, swerved inside the full back to score a memorable try with his hand aloft, afterr a run that began on the Clevedon ten metre line.

Team: T.Thie, S.Johns, W.Cooper, A.Vailes, R.Trinnick, D.Hawkes, D.Filby, B.Stone, J.Morgan, T.Lisney, J.Pearce, W.McMillan(c), S.Barnes, J.Shopland, D.Rawle. Reps: B. Ford, R.Hughes, B.Littleton, D.Hand, H.Russell

The Bridgwater defence were still looking at each other as the conversion by Hawkes went over with half time calling. The score was 34 - 16 at half time.

Whatever was said at half time by the two coaches certainly appeared to have the desired effect. Bridgwater scored immediately from the kick off as some Clevedon players watched to see who was to going start the tackling off again. Clevedon now had something else as well. You could see that a second helping of belief had been instilled in them. Hawkes landed another penalty from wide out on the right.

Filby who had been busy in the first half, was now a constant pain in his highly rated Australian opposite numbers side, slapping at him and pulling him down, disrupting every thing he did and just getting that bit of turn over Clevedon needed. It led to a scrum, then a maul where all the Clevedon forwards drove some fifteen metres, then from the side the irrepressible Stone broke and scored his first try of the afternoon, which was converted by Hawkes 39 -26. The influence of Filby, who if he wants to can direct a game and do most things, was now clear. He was directing his forwards and they were getting results.

Hawkes as a result, was getting field position deep into the Bridgwater half and there was a willingness to get the ball wide. Bridgwater did the same and it opened the game and the stronger runners came to the fore. An impressive try from the Fijian Bridgwater full back showed that there were some real quality players in their side.

A change in the line up saw McMillan move to number eight and a bigger runner, carrying ball. A set move from the scrummage saw the Bridgwater defence stretched and Filby score a deserved try from an outstanding off load from full back Thie. Hawkes converted.

As Bridgwater realised what was happening, they again found some space created from the big centre, who thankfully appeared to be tiring. He was brought down by Trinnick and found a player in support to take his team out of reach.

Bridgwater were now tiring as they had played Dings the day before, admittedly with some different players who now looked to be tiring. The ball went wide quickly and the Clevedon right wing Johns went hard for the line as he got the ball twenty metres out. He scored in the corner only to be told his right foot went into touch in the tackle. Play was now in the Bridgwater twenty-two for some time and the result was another try for Stone who was again carrying the ball from a driven maul, full of fire and determination.

The game ended with Bridgwater on the attack and try saving tackles from young Harvey Russell and another from Thie on former Clevedon player Owen Biggins prevented Them from increasing their lead. Bridgwater are a well-organised side as they should be, with some very good individual players making them tick. A deserved win and good luck to them in the final.

It was a game in which we saw a number of quality players, not all on the Bridgwater team. We also saw a lot of desire and a group of Clevedon players who were there for each other, proud of what they had achieved having given all they could. No more could have been asked for.