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Bradford on Avon  33  vs  Ivel  20   -  Away  Southern Counties South
 
Click pictures for Ivel try video clips
 
Pictures in section below from Dave Fowler
 
 
Ivel travelled to Bradford on Avon expecting a tough afternoon with 8 first team forwards missing, many of them injuried, however that was not to be the case.  The Barbarians started the game with the wind behind them and soon had BoA under pressure, with the lineouts working effectively and the scrum holding the backs had a platform to attack from, two decisive breaks, one from player coach Owen Salmon and the second from Man on the Match Sam Armitstead resulted in great scoring opportunities however the last pass always let them down, all Ivel could muster from 20 mins of pressure was a penalty from Sam Armitstead.  Ivel kept their opponents in the game with a series of handling errors and infringments, one of these resulting in a converted try after some weak tackling.  Another mistake right on half time saw BoA steal another converted try which Ivel certainly did not deserve.
 
Just after half time Ivel fell asleep and conceeded another try but to their credit they fought back immediately, first to touch down was fly half Emlyn Kuhn after he exploited the blind side and beat the cover defence to squeeze in at the corner, five minutes later good hands from Kuhn and Craig Fellows put Salmon into space who showed he still has some gas left in the tank to score from 40 metres putting Ivel right back into the game.  However further mistakes saw BoA score 2 more tries to see off the brief come back, the last word came from the Barbarians who after some dazzling footwork by Sam Armitstead saw his brother D J scorch around his man and dot down behind the posts.
 
Ivel coach Owen Salmon commented 'It was a game we could've won, our own mistakes kept them in the game and our failure to score a try in the first half cost us, next week we face Oldfield Old Boys at home in a must win game'.
 
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Ivel  34  vs  Bradford on Avon  12     Saturday 21st march 2009
 
 
Click pictures for Ivel try clips
 
Pictures in section below from Dave Fowler
 
 

Ivel were forced to play a home game, against Bradford on Avon, away at Somerton due to the Aldon Horse Trials taking place at The Showground. This match should have proved a challenge to the Yeovil side, looking at both club’s recent results. But things are never that straightforward.

The first half saw Ivel on the attack pushing the “visitors” back into their own half. Constant pressure at the scrums and breakdown led to BoA giving away free kicks and penalties, two of which Sam Armitstead converted. Ivel had an extra level of pace that they benefited from on the hard playing surface. After some extra pressure fly-half Sam Armitstead beat four defenders, on the quarter hour mark, to score the first try. He then converted to put a 13-0 lead on the board. More pressure from the Ivel Forwards, and quick ball at the breakdown, allowed first team debut man Rhys Biggin, a senior colt, to score the next try. Sam again converted.

Half time 20-0

The second half began with Ivel putting pressure on the visitors, preventing any early breakthrough that would have dented the Yeovil teams plans. Following good work up the left hand side Ivel won a penalty. Bradford’s discipline failed and the referee moved them back another 10 metres. Darren “Dinger” Bell saw an opportunity, picked up the ball and ran at the defence. He took the tackle and there, on his shoulder was Elwyn White. Elwyn took the ball and went over to score the third try. Sam again converted to extend the lead. More action followed with both teams taking the game on. Ivel’s fourth try followed good work from full-back Danny Heseltine. He stepped inside his opposite number and fed the ball to first half replacement (and head coach) Steve Berryman who charged over to score from inside the 20 metre line. The extras were added by Sam Armitstead. Ivel then relaxed and let Bradford back into the game. They managed to score two tries themselves with one conversion added. The game finished with Ivel on the front foot and dominating as they had through the majority of the game.

Final score 34-12

Outstanding performances came from Rhys Biggin, Sam Bennett (another senior colt debut player), Sam Armitstead and Elwyn White. Man-of-the-match was Ed Mason, who was fresh in from his holiday that morning. Straight off the slopes to the pitch.