Regional 1 South West

Weston-super-Mare 23 Chew Valley 43

Report by Chris Heath

Chew Valley returned to the top of the Regional 1 South West table thanks to this six tries to three over struggling Weston-super-Mare and previous leaders Devonport Services, losing 28-24 at Brixham.

Despite being a point up at half-time and being well in the game for long periods, Weston eventually succumbed to Chew Valley's deadly finishing, which, in the end, proved to be the difference.

The game began with a line break by fly-half George Nuttycombe and a high tackle on flanker Jay Davis, which led to a kick up the line and then followed a period of Weston pressure, but Chew looked comfortable in defence.

Chew counter-attacked and went over for the first try through scrum-half Ben Mead despite the touch judge having his flag up. Full-back Tom Bryan added the extras.

Weston then gave away a penalty whilst trying to clear their line, which Bryan kicked easily to put them ten points up after ten minutes.

After a long break by Davis and a mini break by centre Huw Morgan Weston, Weston rallied in Chew's twenty-metre area.

They earned a scrum and attacked and, with a penalty against Chew. Weston elected to take the points which Nuttycombe kicked.

Weston kept up the pressure and claimed another penalty in front of the posts. Weston quickly tapped, but Chew saw it and defended well but had No.8 Scott Parsons yellow-carded.

Persistence told, and after battering the line, centre Huw Morgan boshed over to give Nuttycombe a relatively straightforward conversion to even up the scoring.

Weston then counter-attacked, and a kick-through by Morgan led to a penalty awarded to the hosts near the Chew line.

Chew were down to thirteen with centre Miles Moorehouse sent to the sin-bin.

Weston took a scrum penalty and pushed Chew over, with Davis getting the final touch to put the hosts five points to the good.

Bryan then kicked a penalty to the corner from Western not releasing, and from the resulting line out, powered through to equalise through prop Louis White.

The conversion from Bryan gave the visitors the lead. Weston regathered the kick-off, and another Morgan break and offload gave Weston territory.

However, Chew had infringed, and Nuttycombe made no mistake giving Weston a point lead.

The visitors had a chance to retake the lead on the stroke of half-time but were held up over the line, but Morgan was yellow-carded.

Chew gained a penalty straight after the break and scored a try through Moorehouse, converted by Bryan, in the forty-second minute following some good forward play.

Chew scored another converted try from a loose kick ahead, which they ran back too easily, with Bryan converting his touchdown.

Parsons was then given a second yellow to put the visitors down to fourteen men for the remaining time.

Weston kicked the penalty deep into Chew territory but when in a promising position, were penalised for diving in.

Chew took advantage and scored an excellent breakaway try through wing Harry Stride, which Bryan converted to take his tally in the game to 18 points.

Weston then thought they had scored, but full-back Chris Young's pass to Davis was deemed forward by referee Arron Williams after good work by Nuttycombe.

But Weston were not to be denied, and a typical Davis break and offload gave scrum-half Dan Lomax the chance to scoot over to cut the deficit.

Nuttycombe hit the post with the conversion attempt.

Chew, however, added to their lead in the seventy-fifth minute with a second try from Dan Brooker, but he could not convert to consolidate their victory.

Weston proved once again that they can compete at this level. Still, to reap any reward, they must start producing an eighty-minute display rather than the intermittent efforts they are producing.

Weston 1stXV are not in action on Saturday (January 20), so their next game is away to Matson on January 27, who are just above the Seasiders, but 15 points clear from two fewer games.

Match photos HERE