Sat 3 Oct 2026, 14:30
Regional 1 Tribute South West
Sidmouth 38 Weston-super-Mare 34
Weston-super-Mare had hopes of building on their good performance against Newent a week ago on their first-ever league visit to the Devon coastal town of Sidmouth, but their hosts denied them victory thanks to two late tries, writes Chris Heath
Having won the coin toss, Weston skipper Tom Sugg elected to play up the slope in the first half and with only a very gentle breeze it looked all set for a fine afternoon of rugby.
Sidmouth opened the scoring in the fourth minute when, following a kick to the twenty-metre area, the home pack worked their way to the line and scored through No.8 Shaun Malton, with fly-half Dan Powell adding the extras.
Weston hit back when a strong run by full-back Alex Howman led to a penalty kicked by fly-half George Nuttycombe. Sidmouth were unlucky not to increase their lead after a superb break by their inside centre Tom Mead was halted by a forward pass.
When the hosts had an attacking scrum, they ran the ball wide, and Weston’s wing Stuart Souch was yellow-carded by referee Ollie Parsons for attempting to intercept a Sidmouth pass.
From the penalty scrum, the home pack drove over the line with Malton claiming his second try, which went unconverted. Trailing by nine points, Weston were looking distinctly rattled, and this was being compounded by simple mistakes.
Going into the second quarter, Sidmouth broke through some poor defence despite some big hits, and the ball was chipped into the vacant wingers’ area for Fin Lashbrook to benefit from a kick-through and dot the ball down.
Powell expertly converted from wide out, extending their lead to 19-3. Weston were falling foul of referee Parsons too often, and with the home fly-half making massive metres with his touchline kicks, the visitors were constantly under pressure.
It looked as though Sidmouth would secure the bonus point before the half-hour mark, but they inexplicably gave away a penalty near the line. Centre Huw Morgan was trying his hardest with a couple of decent runs and some excellent hold-up play.
Weston put together a decent period of play, only to be halted by another ball spilt while attacking. A fantastic break by Keanu Ballard was carried on, but another dropped pass spoilt the winger's excellent break.
The visitors then benefited from two quick-fire penalties, ending up with a line-out near the hosts’ line with half-time fast approaching. Prop Charlie Brabham looked to have crossed the whitewash, but the referee deemed it to be short.
Instead, he awarded Weston another penalty, and this time, after the forwards had huffed and puffed, the ball was spun out to Morgan, who crossed under the sticks, making Nuttycombe's conversion easier.
With the benefit of the slope in the second half, things looked a bit more optimistic for the visitors. However, Weston’s No.8 Nasili Ikahihifo was sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle.
This was followed by the Lashbrook crossing for his second, and Sidmouth’s bonus-point try, which Powell converted. Back came Weston as Souch kicked and gathered, then outpacing the defenders to score, with Nuttycombe converting.
An up-and-under by Souch led to mayhem in the home defence, and after speedy flanker Matt James carried the play on, the ball was spun wide for replacement centre Will Crane, on for the injured Morgan, to cross wide out on the left.
Nuttycombe hit the post with the conversion, but he added the extras to the next touchdown. A strong break by Ikahihifo, carried on by Sugg and finished by Souch, after good work by centre Marcus Nel, put Weston in the lead for the first time.
The referee was still making some quizzical decisions; however, after some great tackling, Weston were once again penalised. Weston stole the ball at the line-out, and the visitors’ defence held.
A wayward pass after appearing to weather the storm led to yet another Sidmouth scrum near the visitors’ line, but a chip ahead prompted Souch to call a mark over the line. His clearance kick landed near the ten-metre line.
Weston ended up in the Sidmouth half for the first time in a while. The hosts then conceded a penalty and Nuttycombe's kick made touch about fifteen metres out, but another knock-on prevented Weston from pulling away.
After Sidmouth attempted to run the ball from the scrum, Ikahihifo stole the ball and put Nuttycombe over, but his conversion was missed, leaving the visitors eight points to the good.
Desperate Weston defence then stopped the hosts from adding to their tally in this absorbing game. An excellent clearing kick by full-back Alex Howman alleviated more pressure.
But Weston were penalised, and Sidmouth once again went for the line-out option. Scrum half Blake Boyland was then yellow-carded, and it looked as if the hosts would eventually cross the line through full-back Rory O’Brien.
Powell’s conversion cut Weston’s lead to one point, with one minute remaining. But Sidmouth continued the pressure and from a catch-and-drive, Malton completed his hat-trick to secure victory.
Weston take two bonus points from the game to leave them fifth in the table but will regroup in training this week as they prepare for Saturday’s visit of Brixham who are just behind them on points difference.
