Fri 7 Nov 2025, 19:30
Russell marks his 450th first-team appearance with a try for the league leaders
Regional 2 Tribute Ale, South West
North Petherton 17 Weston-super-Mare 35
Second row Ashley Russell marked his 450th first team appearance for Weston-super-Mare by leading the team out at North Petherton and scoring the second of their five tries as the visitors maintained their unbeaten run at the top of the Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West table, writes Chris Heath.
Russell, 42, made his first team debut in the National League 3 South 14-5 home victory over Redruth in December 2002, playing as blindside flanker. Now only Chris Brown (1967/68 - 1994/95) 461 and Colin Couch (1954/55 – 1970/71) 452 have played more games.
Weston took the lead in the seventh minute when, after some excellent handling by both forwards and backs battering the home line, it eventually led to centre Marcus Nel crossing near the posts, making fly-half Archie Tilsley's conversion relatively straightforward.
On a murky Friday evening in North Petherton, the visitors increased their lead when a short pass to blindside flanker Tom Sugg caused havoc in the home defence. After some probing by scrum half Jack Press, it was fitting that it was Russell who got the touchdown.
Tilsley again converted, and then it looked as if fullback Alex Howman had gone in under the posts, but the final pass was adjudged to be forward. Weston were looking dangerous, and after Press went blind from a scrum, Howman's blistering break led to Nel going in under the sticks.
Tilsley added the extras to give Weston a 21-nil lead, but between all the blistering play, they were conceding penalties, and Pethy sniffed a chance. Eventually, their persistence paid off, and Weston's lead was cut to fourteen points.
Lock George Talbot was then held up over the line, but Weston eventually scored through Nels centre partner Cameron Maslen, who sliced through the defence to register Weston's bonus point try, which Tilsley did well to convert for a 28-7 half-time lead.
Early in the second half, tighthead prop Maison Turner was replaced by the returning Will Bamsey. Jacob Simpson then replaced the milestone-reaching Russell, Sugg redeployed to lock, and George Nuttycombe replaced Tilsley.
Left wing Ryan Watterston was looking particularly dangerous, but the good work was ending in a mistake here and there, and the home side were still in the game. Nel was then yellow-carded for a high tackle.
The game was stuttering, but the hosts were sniffing a chance and drove over to cut Weston's lead further with an unconverted try. Into the final quarter, Turner returned to the fray for hooker Adam Fisher.
Weston were making elementary errors and after such a good first half were beginning to look a bit shaky. However, the basics in defence were still there, and after a break by Watterston, right wing Keanu Ballard was on hand to cross the whitewash and Nuttycombe to convert.
Captain Charlie Brabham was yellow-carded with three minutes still to play for a high tackle, and Pethy took advantage with an unconverted try. For some extraordinary reason, referee Alex Priddle then yellow-carded Simpson.
But Weston prevailed, and another bonus point victory was in the bag to take them eight points clear at the top of the table, ahead of Tiverton and Winscombe. Weston 1stXV are next in action on Saturday, November 22, at home to fourth-placed Ivybridge, ko: 2.30 pm.
