Sat 13 Feb 2010
National League 3 South West
Weston-super-Mare 17 Bournemouth 22
WESTON ended their four-match winning run with a narrow defeat at the Recreation Ground, the scoreline reflecting Bournemouth's minimal superiority.
The visitors' powerful forward surges were dealt with efficiently, but a 6-2 penalty count in their favour during the second half took them to victory. At least the Seasiders salvaged a bonus point which was the least they deserved.
But the second restart, although not travelling the required 10 metres, was knocked on and the visitors scored their first try by Hearsey.
Dickson's third penalty from 48 metres went over via the crossbar, but Bournemouth took the lead they were never to lose with Lynch's try converted by Ngapaku who then kicked a penalty to give his team a 15-9 advantage at the break.
Dickson's fourth penalty reduced the arrears following a high tackle on James Mackay, but Bournemouth should have secured the match in the 61st minute with Flynn's touchdown, but he had run over the dead ball line.
Following Mackay's penetrating run, Dickson just failed with a penalty attempt, again from 48 metres, but Ngapaku took the score to 18-12 with a similar score. But Weston struck back superbly.
Strong inroads by Andrew Richards, Ed Smith and Andrew Glen provided quick possession and when width was used at last, replacement Harry Warman put Middlemiss clear to the right corner.
In the final moments, Bournemouth attacked hard to deny the hosts the bonus point, but Weston's front row contrived to take a heel against the put-in at a scrum on their own line to preserve it.
Although defeated, this was another decent effort by Weston. As usual the forwards fronted up with strong performances by George Sparks and George Wright, together with Glen and the tireless Richards.
However, the backs tended to kick possession away until the final quarter when they showed what might have been with Middlemiss' try.
They travel to Reading on Saturday before hosting Cleve in the re-arranged match on the 27th, after which the table may reveal the lower half of the table more clearly.
Weston: J Reid; K Middlemiss, S Bennett, J Mackay, P Sprague; G Dickson, J Conway D Price, D Burge, S Williams, A Richards, A Glen, E Smith, G Wright, G Sparks (capt). Replacements used: S Donegan, S Board, H Warman.
