South West 1

Weston-super-Mare 11 St Ives 10

Weston-super-Mare's performance matched the dismal weather as they ended their season with the narrowest of victories over already relegated St Ives.

Any neutral observer may have wondered which was the team at the foot of the table as the Seasiders wrestled with the wintry conditions.

David Burge's pack did most of the defending as the visitors protected the ball to good effect, but the hosts' midfield had a match that they will want to forget.

Weston were forced into a late change just before kick-off when Chris Crichton withdrew. He was replaced on the right wing by David Taylor and it was Taylor who opened the scoring with a corner try following a strong run by William Tuitupou.

Chris Young, making his first start as a fly-half, stretched the lead with a well struck penalty but the visitors' pack then took over.

Their effective driving produced tries by Andrew Skinner and John Smith to give them an 8-10 lead at the interval.

But six minutes into the second half the hosts made a rare visit to St Ives territory and Young did well to steer his second penalty through the posts against the strong easterly wind.

With Weston's backs either dropping the ball or passing it to no-one in particular the Cornishmen were in with a chance, and as they continued to attack through their forwards, only they will know why they failed to opt for any of their three opportunities to kick a winning goal.

As it was, the Weston pack got down to the business of defence and they completed the task to good effect with the aid of three penalties awarded to them on their own line, and replacement fly-half Mark Armstrong's crucial relieving kicks.

Quality wise, this was a match not to be committed to memory but the victory ensured Weston's third position in South West 1.

Weston-super-Mare's No 8 George Sparks made his 100th first team appearance in the match against St Ives.

Weston-super-Mare: H Warman (M Armstrong 49), D Taylor, TJ Madamombe, J Reid, P Sprague, C Young, R Bennett, T Gukibau, D Burge (capt), E Hunt (N Lavender 24), A Richards, A Russell, W Tuitupou, T Gilmour (J Matthews 56), G Sparks.