South West One

Weston-super-Mare 54 Coney Hill 22

Weston-super-Mare centre Ben Main had never previously touched down a first-team try, but on Saturday he not only produced a hat-trick, but in an outstanding display, had a hand in three other scores.

In fact, it was a good day for the Main family with Ben's twin brother Tom securing some quality ball at the line-out.

Relegation threatened Coney Hill, on their first visit to the Recreation Ground, looked all at sea as the hosts racked up 35 points in as many minutes, but they responded with a brace of tries before the break and two more near the end.

But Weston started strongly with a 30-metre driving maul and they were ahead in the eighth minute when William Tuitupou was the beneficiary after the Mains had combined skilfully down the right touchline.

Mark Armstrong converted, before the fly-half's delicate chip gave Ben Main his first score.

Main was asserting his authority in midfield and his clean break gave Paul Sprague a try and Sprague scored his second following Andrew Richards' charge and good presentation by full-back David Taylor.

Main's next score arrived in the 33rd minute when he intercepted Rory Baker's grubber kick to sprint 50 metres to the posts.

Two conversions by Armstrong took Weston to 35 points, but as the foot came off the pedal, Mark Rimmer and Darren Carr replied with tries for the visitors.

The second half started as it had the first, with a Main break and a try for Tuitupou.

Armstrong again converted and five minutes later 20-year-old Main completed his hat-trick with a try at the left corner.

Armstrong's touchline conversion added further misery for the visitors, but they hit back with tries by Ryan Nicholas and Carr, the second converted by Baker.

Weston had the final word when Matthew Burns touched down their eighth try, but the match ended in sadness when, in the last minute of normal time, scrum-half Luke Hember sustained a badly broken and dislocated left ankle.

This victory keeps the Seasiders in third place in South West 1, but they will be without Hember and prop Tobias Gukibau for their Somerset Cup semi-final against Taunton at North Petherton on Sunday (2.30pm). Gukibau has an ankle ligament injury.

Weston-super-Mare: D Taylor; M Burns, T J Madamombe, B Main, P Sprague; M Armstrong (J Reid 56), L Hember; T Gukibau (J Gallagher 56), D Burge (capt), E Hunt, A Richards, W Tuitupou (E Saunders 70), T Main, T Gilmour, G Sparks.

Eddie Saunders became the latest former junior to make his debut in Weston's 1st XV when he came off the bench during the South West 1 match against Coney Hill.

Flanker Saunders (18), who started his club career in the Seasiders' Under-13s team, joined nine other former junior players who were in the senior squad on Saturday.