Sat 31 Oct 2009
Weston-super-Mare 14 Reading 13
WESTON did well to win this match, as, once again, a lot of their work in midweek was disrupted by late withdrawals.
Harry Warman was involved in a road traffic accident the previous evening. He was replaced at full-back by Matthew Burns who, apart from one wrong option, did well enough in his first senior match since last November.
Russell was replaced by Andrew Richards who put in a performance which made him Weston's beat player by a considerable margin.
With 25 minutes remaining, the hosts led by a single point and had Dorset referee Chris Barnes not spotted a deliberate obstruction in time added, Reading's touchdown at the right corner would have won them the match.
Earlier, the visitors were ahead after only two minutes with Tom Goodhew's penalty, but they were soon overtaken. Neil Trevena broke swiftly down the narrow side from a scrum and he ran cleverly before offloading to Daniel Fry who dived over.
Throughout the match, Reading were grateful to their four Fijian players and in the 33rd minute, Taniela Bakoso ran from his own 22 for a superb individual effort. Goodhew converted, but before the break, Weston took a lead they were never to lose.
Weston started the second half strongly and Paul Sprague's muscular run set up Mackay's third goal, but Reading's backs were still looking dangerous.
James Arnold's vital tackle on Oliver Smith saved a certain score and Richards was always in the picture on the defensive front.
But the visitors persisted and when Burns was caught in possession, Goodhew brought his team to within a single point with his second penalty.
However, Weston's pack worked its way to the visitors' line, only for a knock-on to prevent the score which would have settled the issue. Reading had just enough time to respond again, and Vunian Savuilati appeared to score, but they had offended and following Mackay's penalty to touch, it was left to Richards to secure possession, and victory.
Weston-super-Mare: M Burns; J Arnold, J Filer, M Smith, P Sprague; J Mackay, N Trevena; J Gallagher, D Burge (capt), D Price, M Kempton (A Glen 50), A Richards, E Smith, D Fry, G Sparks. Replacements not used: E Hunt, J Mortimore.
