National League 3 South West

Weston-super-Mare 20 Maidenhead 14

Two of Weston's new faces Lee Voisey and Steve Lang played major parts in their victory over Maidenhead in the season's opener in National 3 (South West) at the Recreation Ground.

Voisey scored a try in each half and Lang's second-half goal kicking became important as was his break to set up the crucial try which settled the issue.

Weston, led by new skipper Ashley Russell, started in positive fashion, but Maidenhead's heavier pack was soon evident. Territory was established but in the space of six minutes their kicker Alex Cannon had failed with three penalties, in the middle of which, the hosts took the lead.Voisey, receiving from a scrum, ran 50 metres to score a spectacular try, and on the half hour, Sparks managed to escape from a retreating scrum to give Kirk Middlemiss the easiest of run-ins.

Both tries were unconverted, but Lang made amends in the third minute of the second half with a 40-metre penalty.

The advantage was now 13 points, but Weston, now down to 14 men following James Reid's earlier yellow card, had some defensive duties to carry out and Wright's tackle on Jon Groenen was of major importance as the visitors attacked. But they were not to be denied as James Emanuel was awarded a try from a driven line-out. Cannon converted, but Weston responded six minutes later with a vital score.

With more than 20 minutes remaining, Maidenhead, who had beaten Weston only once in 12 league meetings, attacked with vigour, but after three raids had been repelled, pressure was relieved by Chris Young's long break.

But the visitors persisted and when the Seasiders' passing broke down, Ryan Long hacked through to score at the posts, Ed Keohane converting.

The match was now very much in the balance, but Maidenhead's hopes of a second victory were extinguished when referee Bob McCrudden inexplicably sounded the final whistle with eight minutes remaining, including three minutes of stoppage time.

Weston: L Voisey; K Middlemiss, J Reid, S Lang, P Sprague; C Young, J Mortimore (N Trevena 70); D Price, J Gallagher (D Eliot 70), M Down, M Kempton, A Russell (capt), E Smith (D Fry 61), G Wright, G Sparks. Yellow card: J Reid (41).