Sat 22 Mar 2025, 14:30
Weston started brightly and nearly scored in the second minute but a misplaced kick when a pass looked a better option prevented the opening try. However Stow had infringed and the visitors were under severe pressure and in the seventh minute the pressure told when following the forwards battering the home line the ball was spun to outside centre Ryan Watterston who touched down wide out on the right.
Stow countered and earned a penalty when after Weston prop Charlie Brabham had produced a crunching tackle on his opposite number Weston infringed for the first time to gift the hosts three points.
A tremendous break by fly half George Nuttycombe put Weston on the attack again and following another good run by lock Ross Chesher Weston were in touching distance but a dropped ball put paid to a further score.
Weston were huffing and puffing but were lacking a bit of direction and structure.
They paid for their lack of a cutting edge when Stow cut through to score a converted try to put the hosts ahead for the first time.
Weston hit back on the half hour and following good hands centre Archie Tilsley levelled the score and then converted to put the visitors two points clear.
Stow once again countered and looked to have scored but were held up over the line.
Good work by Brabham and prop partner Will Bamsey led to Weston attacking again and when Watterston broke through it looked like another try was on the cards but after trying to find left wing with a kick through the ball rolled harmlessly into touch to signal the half time whistle.
The second half was stop start for the first ten minutes until good work by flanker Callum Bliss Climo earned Weston a penalty but it eventually came to nothing. With this replacement prop Ollie Streeter was introduced to the fray and after a hefty first scrum Nuttycombe pinned the hosts back.
Weston were attacking and Stow conceded a penalty which Weston decided to scrum. They were marching towards the home line when the referee told the visitors to use it hence negating any advantage they had accrued.
Weston paid the price for their lack of invention when Stow scored following an aimless kick which was converted to put the hosts back in front.
A lovely nudge by replacement fly half George Chapman from another penalty put the visitors in a commanding position and the forwards took advantage by barrelling over with impressive number eight Tom Lewis getting the final touch.
Tilsley converting well from wide out.
The lead didn't last long as Stow hit back straight away with another converted try.
Weston then had an eight minute spell with the ball but with line beckoning once again the referee deemed that the home side had negated the attack of the visitors and blew his whistle to the obvious relief of the hosts.
In what turned into a disappointing defeat a first for Weston occurred when replacement Gavin Simpson joined his son Jacob in the fray and thus became we believe the first father and son to play in the first team together.
Other impressive performances were achieved by Brabham and Bamsey in the front row along with locks Callum Kingscott and Chesher but Weston's game management or lack of led to them losing a game they realistically should have won.
