Sat 17 Oct 2026, 15:00
Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West
Weston-super-Mare 38 Exmouth 66
Weston-super-Mare suffered their third Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West defeat in a row, but unlike the last two occasions, the winning margin was much wider, with visitors Exmouth outscoring their hosts ten tries to six, writes Chris Heath.
It was another beautiful October afternoon at the Rec with Weston locking horns again with old rivals Exmouth. Centre Marcus Nel led the Weston team onto the pitch as he made his 100th senior appearance for the club.
It was the visitors who scored early while some supporters were drifting out of the clubhouse. After conceding a penalty and a catch-and-drive, the ball was spun out wide right for No.8 Max Keen to touchdown.
Weston looked to hit back, only a forward pass prevented them from levelling the scores. But the hosts were rewarded for their relative dominance after the try, when a catch-and-drive saw hooker Tom Hatch crash over to equalise.
Fly-half George Nuttycombe’s difficult conversion attempt hit the upright. Exmouth then hit back, but a dropped pass prevented any further score through flanker Ollie Willis.
However, the visitors weren't to be denied, and after good hands, blindside flanker Ollie Willis scored under the posts, with fly-half George Meadows converting with just 15 minutes on the clock.
Exmouth then benefited from a high tackle and elected to scrum fifteen metres out; only heroic defence kept them out, eventually leading to a penalty for the home side. A well-rehearsed move that ended with No.8 Nasili Ikahihifo crossing the whitewash.
Nuttycombe added the straightforward conversion to get his side back on level terms. Weston then had a kickable penalty awarded but decided to go for the corner, but great Exmouth defence kept them at bay.
A fantastic line by Will Crane ended with the full back racing away to give the hosts the lead for the first time. Nuttycombe added the extras with a superb kick to put Weston into the lead for the first time.
A pinpoint kick to the corner by Nel kept the visitors on the defensive. However, Exmouth broke out, and the incident ended with Crane receiving a yellow card, which may have seemed somewhat harsh.
After the resulting penalty was kicked to touch, Exmouth hit back, and after being awarded consecutive penalties, Weston did brilliantly to prevent the Cockles from scoring, with the hosts taking a 19-12 lead into the break.
Weston's restart didn't go the required ten metres, and Exmouth had an attacking scrum. They ran the ball back and forth until their inside centre Nick Headley crossed wide out on the left and scrum half Tom Lomax converted.
With the scores level again and Weston conceding penalties, Exmouth eventually regained the lead through tighthead prop Rory Mason, with Lomax adding the extras. Weston looked ragged, and Exmouth quickly scored again.
This time it was inside centre who dotted the ball down for Lomax to convert. It was all Exmouth, and they scored again through hooker Charlie Gibbings after a strong catch-and-drive, with another excellent conversion by Lomax.
With the match entering the final quarter, penalties were once again killing the hosts, and Exmouth scored again in the corner through Willis, giving the Cockles a commanding 26-point lead.
It was one-way traffic, and a try from wing Cal Westaway brought up the half-century for Exmouth, with Lomax then adding the conversion. Hatch scored his second touchdown, giving Weston a try-scoring bonus point.
Nuttycombe converted to halve the deficit with ten minutes remaining. However, relentless counter-pressure from Exmouth led to them scoring again through lock Liam Bailey, with Lomax converting.
Weston hit back immediately through debutant Brooker, and then a superb break by right-wing Keanu Ballard gave the hosts another opportunity, which was denied when a tackle forced the ball into touch.
But Weston maintained the pressure and Ikahihifo crossed for his second try, Nuttycombe converting. With full-time beckoning, Weston knocked on, leading to another Exmouth try for Westaway, which Lomax converted.
This was a convincing win for the Cockles, their third league victory in a row, to take them up to fourth place in the table. Weston drop to eighth ahead of Saturday’s trip to St Austell, who are just two points behind them.
