WESTON 12 pts BOURNEMOUTH 3 pts

WITH the weather conditions as they were, Weston did well to secure another league victory against a Bournemouth team which was still well in the match until midway through the second half.

At that stage, the Seasiders were in the lead by a mere two points, but up stepped Chris Crichton to score his team's second try.

The hosts had driven into Bournemouth's 22 and Tobias Gukibau had several visiting players hanging off his as he powered forward and when the ball was re-cycled, Crichton came off his wing to fall over the line after T J Madamombe had been held up.

Mark Armstrong converted for a two-score advantage and Weston were, more or less home, but not particularly dry.

Weston had elected to play against the elements, but David Burge's pack quickly gave notice of what was to come.

Powerful scrimmaging and Ashley Russell's expertise at the line-out gave them the important platform, and the visitors were hardly in the match for the opening half-hour.

But a couple of hefty kicks down the wind gave them attacking positions and the Seasiders were fortunate when James Flynn failed with a simple straight penalty from 23 metres.

However, Flynn's second attempt from 20 metres further sailed between the posts for an unlikely lead.

But Weston responded immediately. Russell's clean catch at a five-metre line-out saw Gukibau driven over with additional assistance from Armstrong and Chris Young for a 5-3 interval advantage.

Ten minutes into the second half a rainstorm swept across the ground, almost obliterating the players from view and as Bournemouth attacked, it took hooker Burge's timely clearance to avert the danger.

After David Cook's strong run down the left flank almost brought a try to celebrate his 100th appearance, Armstrong's 25-metre penalty attempt struck a post as Weston were still searching for the crucial score. But along came Crichton for his 17th try of the season.

This was a match won by the pack which dominated throughout, and by tenacious defending which prevented Bournemouth from even getting close to producing a try, and they will need more of the same when they visit Oxford Harlequins on December 15.

Weston: H Warman; C Crichton, T J Madamombe, C Young, P Sprague; M Armstrong, L Hember; H Smith, D Burge (capt), T Gukibau (D Price 76), A Richards, A Russell, D Cook, K Hobbs, W Tuitupou (P Morrissey 61)