Sat 1 Feb 2025
Saturday 1 February 2025, KO 13:00 United travel the short distance to Hornets in confident mood having won their last 4 fixtures with a lot of positivity at the club with the 1st team also putting together a few wins and facing Gordano at home on the Rec. The United have an early kick off at 13:00 with the career shorting plastic pitch in high demand at Hutton Moor, the Athletic following on with a 15:00 kick off.
It’s also great to be travelling with a settled United with all players having started to appear as regular members of the squad. Further more its wonderful to welcome Martin and Mudiwa Having a Larff brothers back into the United fold after an extended Christmas break and dry January in rugby terms. By the way their super power is not train time tables and suspect synchronisation of arrival time is but a high-fluting concept and as achievable for them as Icarus’ dream of flying.
KO and the United are camped in the Hornets half and infringement results in a yellow card for Hornets on 8 mins. Referee looks to even things up and it’s a yellow card for Charlie Owens, hands in the ruck I think on 10mins.
Hornets defend really well and United fail to capitalise on the time spent in the Hornets half. When Hornets break they are rewarded with a penalty and take the points on offer.
Hornets 3-0 United, 22mins
Rhodri Williams receives the next yellow and 2 are awarded to the Hornets but only 1 player leaves the pitch, 30mins. While I’m on the subject of yellows both Charlie Owen’s and the earlier penalised Hornet player were both asked back on the pitch after 5 minutes, who knew the 5min yellow existed? Every day is a school day.
The game is really entertaining and both sides are working hard to break the deadlock. The United are a little stuttered and struggling to find top gear with their mistakes giving the Hornets the advantage. Hornets capitalise on this and finally pull away again with a fine try on the wing.
Hornets 8-0 United,
35mins United bring an injured Mark Walker off and Kieran Bromsgrove returns to the back row, 35mins
Half Time Hornets 8-0 United United make a series of substitutions during the half time interval seeing Darran Burns, Vinnie Jones, Steve Donegan and Williams making way for Jack Bridgman, Blaine Tottle, Ryan Donegan and Mudiwa Hakunavahu into the action.
An improved start for the United and the forwards step up and keeping the ball tight march toward the Hornets try line with Sam Light crossing the whitewash for the United’s first points. Nick Hawken steps up and collects the extras.
Hornets 8-7 United, 50mins Hawken is off and Burns returns to the centre, 51mins.
The United can’t sustain the pressure and Hornets move into a purple patch with two quick tries which are well worked and put some distance between themselves and the chasing United.
Hornets 15-7 United, 58mins
Hornets 20-7 United, 62mins
More changes for the United with Chesher and Bromsgrove making way for returning Jones and Williams, 65mins.
United are putting the pressure on the Hornets once again and are playing well. The contact is taking a toll and further use of the bench sees Donegan Jnr and Jones off and Donegan Senior and Chesher back into the fray.
United are throwing everything at Hornets and to their credit the defence is well organised and strong, United are held up over the line, continuing to battle hard but can’t find the finish. The deadlock is final broken with Light crashing over for his second out wide from a line out drive, but unfortunately the extras are not forthcoming.
Hornets 20-12, 75mins
It’s all United in the closing minutes, Hornets are hanging in there but two scores are needed and the clocks not on the United’s side. Steve Donegan finally pushes over the try line and Josh Cooke claims the extras.
Hornets 20-19, 78mins
With 2 mins left on the clock there’s to much to do for the United and Hornets take the victory and the United have to settle for a losing bonus point.
Full Time Hornets III 20-19 Weston-super-Mare United
Thank you to our hosts Hornets, a great game played in good spirits and nice to play against local lads and neighbours. Good luck for the remainder of the season. For the United some reflection on what could have been, as our run of form stalls. On a positive note it was great that we remained competitive until the final whistle and claimed the losing bonus point, team spirit remained high and we continue to develop as a team.
It was exciting to see Martin and his brother Mudiwa carrying the ball and both Chesher and Light stepped up as leaders in the pack. Jones continues to develop control in his game and Williams is lively in the loose. The backs are showing promise and connectivity things will get really interesting once we release our wings Max Patterson and Tom Blyth, while our senior players Burns and Hawken grow in stature.
Next week it’s a rest for the United with no game, lets get to training though as the 1st Team will benefit from the numbers and we need to be sharper with the finish as evident today. Then Saturday support the 1st away at Thornbury or Athletic TBC away at Bridgwater.
Backs Josh Cooke, Huw Matthews, Max Paterson, Darran Burns, Nick Hawken, Tom Blyth, Ollie Marshall
Forwards Martin Hakunavanhu, Charlie Owens, Steve Donegan (Capt), Ross Chesher, Sam Light, Rhodri Williams, Vinnie Jones, Mark Walker
Reps (all used) Ryan Donegan, Blaine Tottle, Mudiwa Hakunavahu, Kieran Bromsgrove, Jack Bridgman
Thank you, the pleasure is all yours,
Mark Mongo Matthews
