B&A RFC 10, Weston RFC 54 (01/02/13)

Somerset Cup Quarter Final

A new-looking Bridgwater side could make no impression on a Weston side who looked every bit as good as their exalted league position suggests.

Weston dominated the game up front as a new look home front row, including new prop, Lovejoy, were under pressure. Another debutant was winger Joel Clark who looked very sharp whilst Ed Truet also made a debut from the bench.

Weston opened the scoring with a push-over try for George Sparks but with visiting full-back Marco Oupoh in the sin bin, Bridgwater equalised with a try from Ashley Honeywell.

Still shorthanded, Weston increased the lead when skipper, David Burge touched down a rolling maul. With home scrum half, Griffin, in the bin, Weston increased their lead with a Sylvan Edwards try. That was quickly followed by a fourth try as the visitors ran the length of the pitch for Shaun Eaton to score.

Bridgwater briefly came back into the game with a try by Nick Spellissy but Ash Russell increased Weston’s lead with a catch and drive following a line-out.

The kickers had a poor day with all conversions missed in the first half.

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The second half was all Weston. The only times Bridgwater escaped pressure was when they kicked off after each of the five second-half tries.

A break of 40m from Harry Jones set up good position for the visitors and Sparks scored this second try. Edwards also got his second try with a successful conversion from Chris Young.

It was then the turn of scrum half, Ross Bennett to get on the score sheet before replacement hooker, Craig Withers, got on the score sheet only minutes after joining the play.

The final score was a penalty try to Weston converted by Luke Blizzard that came when Bridgwater were down to 14 men with new winger, Clark, in the sin bin.

Bridgwater can now concentrate on their main priority this season, retaining their place in this league whilst Weston will continue to chase promotion and aim to win the Somerset Cup.

Next Week, Bridgwater host Oldfield Old Boys in a relegation dogfight, with the Bath side currently just one point above Bridgwater in the league table. This game will kick off at 3-00 pm.

Scorers
Bridgwater & Albion
Tries: Honeywell,  Spellissy

Weston SM
Tries: Sparks (2), Edwards (2), Burge, Eaton, Russell,  Bennett,  Withers.  
Cons: Young,  Blizzard

Bridgwater match squad: Will Kerry, Garryn Basson, Rob Allen, Ashley Honeywell, Joel Clark, Simon Martin, Dominik Griffin, Lovejoy, Gavin Knight, Jason Moulding, Dan Kemmish (Capt), Doug Page-Symonds, Mitch Windsor, Nick Spellissy, James Bryant, Nick Francis, John Frost, Ed Truet, James Kerry.

Match report by Tony Pomeroy

Category: 1st XV News, Previews / Reports -XV