National League 3 South West

Coney Hill 15 Weston-super-Mare 27 

AFTER their exertions in the Somerset Cup final on the previous Wednesday, Weston took a little time to settled at Metz Way, but they were never trailing and eventually ran out comfortable winners.

They started strongly with centre Jon Gallagher almost reaching the posts but the lead was deservedly taken in the sixth minute.

Reid’s penalty followed and just before the break, Gavin Simpson initiated a move from inside his own 22. Kirk Middlemiss added further impetus before Wright won a 50 metre foot race to the posts following his long punt. Reid converted again for a 12 point interval advantage.

The Seasiders then started the second half as they had the first. A brace of breaks by Middlemiss almost produced tries for Paul Sprague and Joe Waterman, but it was Coney Hill who were next to score.

The Weston scrum was in some discomfort and they were not ready for the tap penalty by Paul Knight who crossed for another unconverted try.

But after Sam Waterman made his debut, replacing the injured Gallagher, it was the ever-alert Wright who came off his wing to send Sprague in for the Seasiders third try to take the score to 10-22.

42-year-old Mark Matthews came off the bench for his 50th first team appearance to replace Darren Doughty and shortly afterwards another burst by Simpson created a hasty clearance and Jamie Rudkin was driven over for the bonus point try from Russell’s catch and drive.

There was just time for Aaron Hawley’s try for the hosts but Weston’s earlier efforts had been justly rewarded.

This was always going to be an awkward fixture, despite Coney Hill’s forthcoming relegation, but the Seasiders’ pack put in some hard graft to eventually overcome their opposites.

There were good performances at the line-out from acting skipper Andrew Glen and the ever-consistent Ashley Russell, while Rudkin and Simpson looked after the back row, and David Swann the front.

But Weston’s most impressive player was Wright, who has moved effortlessly from the flank to the wing, and as the main report suggests, he was always looking for work and was highly visible for most of the match.

Coney Hill: D Davis; J Cole, A Hawley, L Morgan, P Knight; M Knight, R Cooke; M Jordan, R Nicholls, A Pettigrew, P Gunter, J Hemmings, S Griffin, J Hart, S King. Reps: G Preen, T Bozzard, S Felice.

Weston-super-Mare: J Waterman; G Wright, J Gallagher (S Waterman 54), K Middlemiss, P Sprague; J Reid, R Bennett (J Conway 71); D Swann, C Withers, D Doughty (M Matthews 62), A Glen (capt), A Russell, E Barker, J Rudkin, G Simpson.