South West One

Weston 25 pts Chinnor 27 pts

WESTON will need to forget their opening first half at the Rec against Chinnor, but they will be able to take heart from their final 20 minutes.

Their first hour left a lot to be desired with a torrent of mistakes which gave the visitors a 13-point advantage after only 10 minutes, and by the interval, Chinnor were almost home and dry at 24-8.

But the second half was a different story and with any luck, the Seasiders could have come away with a victory.

But the hosts had knocked on from the kick-off and visiting fly-half James Cathcart was soon kicking the first of his five penalties.

Then a midfield mix-up donated a try to wing Jaike Carter, Cathcart converted and added another penalty before Weston replied with a similar score by Mark Armstrong and a try by David Cook who took advantage of a mistake by full-back Ben Hewitt.

But Chinnor's re-start was not cleared and Hewitt was soon atoning for his error with a try on the half-hour.

The conversion failed but in first half stoppage time Cathcart kicked two more penalties for a 16-point advantage and Weston looked to be heading for a heavy defeat.

But, after the break, they gradually got themselves back into the match.

There were purposeful counter attacks from New Zealander Chris Crichton and former Colts full-back Harry Warman before Armstrong's second penalty was immediately cancelled out by Cathcart's fifth.

But the Seasiders kept up the pressure with strong performances by George Sparks, Ashley Russell and particularly by Andrew Richards who set up Cook's second try.

James Reid converted, and in stoppage time Reid, who had taken over from Armstrong at fly-half, broke from halfway to score at the posts.

Reid converted his own score but Weston's comeback had been too late.

This was a disappointing South West 1 opener by Weston, and they will need to play for 80 minutes if they are to overcome newly promoted Coney Hill on Saturday.

Weston: H Warman, C Crichton, TJ Madamombe, J Reid, C Young, M Armstrong (D Taylor 68 mins), R Drabble, H Smith, D Burge, M Down (E Hunt 25), A Richards, A Russell, D Cook, A Ball (P Morrissey 75), G Sparks.