Sat 17 Jan 2026, 14:30
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
Wadebridge Camels 22 Weston-super-Mare 39
Wing Hayden Main scored two tries of Weston-super-Mare’s six tries to take his tally in this Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West campaign to 29 and overtake the previous Club record of 28 set by Charlie Larkin in the 1988/89 season.
The victory extends Weston’s unbeaten run to 15 games and takes them 24 points clear of second-placed Tiverton, who had a narrow 41-38 win at Ivybridge, but the Devon side have two games in hand with the two sides due to meet in the penultimate game of the season.
Weston knew it was going to be a difficult game against Wadebridge Camels, who went into this match in fourth place, having won all six previous home games. It was a sunny afternoon, but the Molesworth Field pitch was showing signs of the drenching of the previous days.
Weston kicked off with the slight breeze in their favour, but conceded an early penalty following a half break by the Wadebridge prop. From the line out, the Camels drove towards the visitors' line, but the defence held, and scrum half Jack Press provided a good clearance kick to touch.
But Wadebridge weren't finished, and after a missed tackle in midfield, the hosts broke through to score under the sticks from openside flanker Will Symons, but somehow scrum half Harvey Orchard contrived to hit the post with his conversion attempt.
Weston hit back straight away when, after several phases, centre Marcus Nel offloaded a superb short pass to prolific try-scoring Main, who had gone over from his left wing to cut a superb line for his twenty-eighth try of a tremendous season. Fly-half Archie Tilsley converted.
Wadebridge piled on the pressure and headed for the Weston line. No.8 Nasili Ikahihifo saved the day by earning a penalty to relieve the tension. But he had to leave the field shortly after with a bloody nose to be replaced by Jacob Simpson.
Symons and No.8 Gerbie Stupple were causing problems for the visitors, and they combined for an almost identical try in the fifteenth minute, but on this occasion, Orchard was able to find the target with his conversion of Symons’ second try.
Things didn't improve for Weston when Callum Kingscott had to leave the first for a Head Injury Assessment, with Ikahihifo returning to the action. Weston hit back with an outstanding try when Tilsley threw a long pass to Alex Howman.
The outside centre’s short offload to Ryan Watterston presented the full back with a sixty-metre dash to the line to level the scores. The referee did not like Weston's defensive efforts and awarded the hosts a penalty in front of the posts, and Orchard put his side three points up.
The visitors hit back once again when captain Charlie Brabham produced a great one-handed offload to put Press in under the posts, and Tilsley’s conversion put his side in front again.
Weston then earned a penalty from a strong scrum and from the lineout that followed.
Weston then earned a penalty from a strong scrum and from the lineout that followed.
After a great drive from the forwards, 22-year-old Main received the ball and his persistence to score his record-breaking twenty-ninth try of the season was well earned to give Weston a bonus point on the stroke of half-time.
At the start of the second period, a superb break ended with a penalty in front of the posts, which Tilsley calmly kicked before adding the extras to the next try. The backs joined the forwards for a drive to the line with influential hooker Gary Carpenter getting the touchdown.
Weston then produced a series of excellent defensive plays to thwart the hosts and gained a relieving penalty for their efforts. Wadebridge came back into the game when referee Will Williams awarded them a penalty try, and Simpson received a yellow card for his trouble.
Maison Turner then replaced the tiring but effective Ieuan John at prop with 17 minutes still to play. Wadebridge sniffed a chance of a try bonus point, with the referee upset by some of Weston's tackling, and the Camels’ Stupple making waves.
Weston were up against it. Cameron Maslen was introduced to the fray with Watterston moving to scrum-half, in place of Press, and Howman going to full back. The visitors continued to batter the Camels' line in the final minutes.
A great cross-field kick by Watterston bounced kindly for right wing Keanu Ballard, who gleefully touched down for his twelfth try of the season to round off the scoring with Weston completing another season’s double after a 49-22 home victory in October.
This was a great eighteen-man performance with nobody outshining anyone else, but it was fitting that Watterston, in his last appearance for the club before returning down under, was given the man of the match.
Weston takes a break from league action next weekend and instead turn their attention to the Preliminary Round of the Webb Ellis Somerset County Cup, when they host the 2023/24 season’s beaten finalists, the University of Bath, ko: 2.30 pm.
The winners will face Cup holders Chew Valley in one semi-final, while Bridgwater & Albion will play Midsomer Norton in the other semi-final, with both ties to be played on neutral grounds on the weekend of February 21/22, 2026.
