Sat 24 Oct 2009
National League 3 South West
Bouurnemouth 39 Weston-super-Mare 21
Weston-super-Mare won the second half of this game at Chapel Gate by 21 points to 15, but their generosity to their hosts during the first 40 minutes cost them dearly.
All four Bournemouth tries in the opening half were donated rather than scored and they were ahead as early as the fourth minute.
Hearson converted and worse was to follow when replacement Callum Forrest made another interception from David Burge's pass.
Then, as the interval approached with the hosts pressing hard, Harry Warman's relieving penalty failed to find the touchline and Pope, aided by a missed tackle, ran it back for his team's fourth try.
But eight minutes into the second half, Weston responded when Matthew McQuaid was on hand to score easily following Bournemouth's mis-handling. Warman converted, but 10 minutes later a poor clearance enabled Dominick Davies to touch down to take the score to 29-7.
But the Seasiders then applied some pressure and after Bournemouth had pulled down a couple of mauls, their skipper Tim Wareham was yellow carded. Skipper David Burge opted for a penalty scrum and Andrew Glen touched down from the pushover.
Weston continued to persevere as best they could, and with a minute of normal time remaining, Warman's cross-field kick enabled James Arnold to charge down Adam Higgins' attempted clearance for the winger's third try in as many matches.
Warman again added the goal points, but the hosts had the final word with Hearson's penalty in stoppage time.
This was undoubtedly Weston's poorest display of the season. Possession was turned over at the breakdown, there was lack of skill at the base of the scrum and most of the defending was well below standard.
Weston-super-Mare: N Trevena; J Arnold, J Filer, M McQuaid (M Smith 20-30), P Sprague; H Warman, J Mortimore (M Smith 67); D Price, D Burge (capt) (J Gallagher 77), S Williams, A Richards, M Kempton, G Sparks, D Fry, A Glen (E Smith 77).
