Sat 20 Dec 2025, 14:30
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
Weston-super-Mare 61 Cullompton 7
Weston-super-Mare go into the Christmas and New Year break 19 points clear at the top of the Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West table as they extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with a nine tries to one victory over visitors Cullompton.
There was a minute’s silence before the kick-off in memory of former captain John Bawden, who passed away on Friday morning, and Aria Thorpe, the nine-year-old girl from the Mead Vale area of Weston-super-Mare, whose life was tragically taken earlier in the week.
Scrum half Bawden was the club captain from 1971 to 1973, and in his third season as captain, the 1stXV recorded 30 wins – a post-war record. He instilled his special brand of drive and enthusiasm in all his players.
He made 261 appearances for the Weston 1stXV between 1969 and 1978, scoring eight tries and kicking five drop goals. Bawden also played for Somerset, coached the Weston club and the Somerset Colts, and served on the Club’s committee during its centenary season.
Second row Ashley Russell returned to the Weston starting line-up for the game, which equalled Colin Couch’s 452 from 1954 to 1971, leaving only Chris Brown with his 461 from 1967 to 1995 as the only player to have made more appearances for the 1stXV.
It was a bright and breezy day for the final game of 2025, with Cullompton having given Weston a challenging game on their own patch despite the 30-19 victory back in September. But the Devon side had only won twice this season and struggling at the wrong end of the table.
It was a game of questionable quality in the early stages, but it finally sprang into life when a series of forward drives led to scrum half Jack Press providing a long pass to put centre Marcus Nel over in the left corner.
Fly-half Archie Tilsley added the extras and converted his own try when he benefitted from an inside pass by full back Ryan Watterston to score under the posts following excellent work by flanker Callum Kingscott, hooker Gary Carpenter and No.8 Nasili Ikahihifo.
Cullompton were then awarded a penalty in midfield, which they kicked to the corner. From the lineout, they spun the ball wide, but a superb covering tackle by right wing Keanu Ballard saved the day.
But the visitors weren't to be denied and scored from another lineout with tighthead prop Sam Cooke powering over the whitewash from close range, and full back Josh Luxon, the Cullompton skipper, added the conversion.
A great kick ahead by Nel led to mayhem in the visitors’ defence, and a neat grubber kick by Tilsley led to prolific try-scoring left wing Hayden Main crossing near the posts to make Tilsley's kick an easy one.
The hosts, however, were far from fluent, and another penalty led to Cullompton attacking again, but this time the Weston defence held. The game then meandered, but the visitors were still very much in it despite trailing 21-7 after 20 minutes.
Weston then scored one of their classic long-range tries when, after Watterston fielded a high ball, Main was put away on a mazy run before Press returned the ball to Watterston, who raced over. Tilsley hit the post with the conversion attempt.
Cullompton then received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on and from Tilsley's kick to the corner. Weston rumbled but knocked on over the line to end the first half with the hosts leading 26-7 and the try-scoring bonus point secured.
It took Weston six minutes into the second half to score their fifth try when, following a lineout, livewire openside flanker Jacob Cox forced his way over the whitewash, and Tilsley provided another difficult conversion.
Weston then scored a well-crafted try through Russell, following great work by both forwards and backs, with Tilsley converting. The home side replaced impressive lock, George Talbot, with Jacob Simpson, who went into the back row, with Kingscott relocating to the second row.
Shortly after prop Ieuan John was replaced by Maison Turner. Cullompton then mounted their first meaningful attack of the second half and ended up with a lineout on Weston's five-metre line.
But the hosts broke out of defence, and only a try-saving tackle on Main stopped the wing from adding to his season's tally. Veteran back Chris Young then entered the fray to make his 250th appearance for the 1stXV as he replaced Watterston.
Skipper Charlie Brabham forced his way over under the sticks for Weston’s seventh try to make Tilsley's conversion an easy one. Cox then scored his second, following great work by Nel, with another excellent Tilsley conversion.
More good work by Nel and Ikahihifo led to an amazing long pass by Carpenter to put Main away for his second. Tilsley again provided a great conversion. Russell was then replaced by Talbot, with Ballard being replaced by Watterston.
The hosts were now playing some great stuff and a raking touch kick by Tilsley after the visitors conceded a penalty, but this time Weston infringed, and the chance was gone. That proved to be the final meaningful moment of the afternoon.
Weston ran out the worthy nine tries to one winners, with Ikahihifo just shading Man of the Match from Cox, Carpenter, and Nel. The players now take a well-earned break ahead of their next game on January 10, 2026, at home to eighth-placed Teignmouth, kick-off 2.30 pm.
