Sat 1 Feb 2025, 14:30
On a dull International Saturday afternoon this local derby was always going to be close. With a slight breeze heading towards the railway station Gordano kicked off and almost immediately fly half George Nuttycombe broke and kicked ahead but the Gordano cover just got back in time.
There then followed a period of nip and tuck until in the tenth minute number eight Jay Davis was on hand after slick hands to score the opening try. Centre Archie Tilsley's conversion going in off the post.
Gordano hit back and only staunch defence kept them at bay.
The visitors finally got on the scoreboard in the thirty first minute when a sweeping move saw them cross to reduce the deficit to two. The conversion having been missed.
Gordano were beginning to look dangerous and after Weston conceded another penalty a quick tap and go was only repelled by a knock on in the tackle with the line beckoning.
Weston hit back straight away through left wing Hayden Main after a searing break by fullback Chris Young. Tilsley hit the upright with the conversion from side out.
Weston kicked off the second half and immediately a loose kick into the visitors area was gathered and ran to the other end where only another knock on prevented a Gordano try.
Weston hit back and got to within a metre of the Gordano try line they were held up but were awarded a five metre scrum. Their dominance in the scrum was not enough to cross but a further penalty was given but a calamity of errors followed and the chance was gone.
Gordano tried to run it out but lost possession resulting in a Weston penalty which Davis quickly tapped to himself and went over in the far right corner.
Great work by Main led to yet another home penalty kicked to the corner by Nuttycombe but from the resulting line out scrum half Ashton Booth was held up over the line and another chance went begging.
Another great run by Main led to a further infringement by the visitors and from the ensuing line out it looked as though the catch and drive had worked but the referee didn't see things that way and awarded Gordano a penalty.
Weston kept at it and after good work by Young and Davis hooker Fatai Koloi who was having another impressive game scored the bonus point try converted by Tilsley.
Replacement flanker Tom Lewis went on for the hard working Jacob Simpson then went straight and hard to score Weston's fifth.
Gordano scored a late converted consolation try on the stroke of full time but it was not enough to stop an in the end comfortable victory for the hosts.
For Weston the line out was much improved under the stewardship of lock Ashley Russell and with Main always dangerous allied to a strong forward performance Weston eventually secured a far from nailed on victory against a Gordano side who never gave up.
