Sat 12 Nov 2011
Exmouth 31 Weston-super-Mare 23
Report by Bob Hedges
WESTON were 17 points in arrears after only 10 minutes at the Imperial Ground, but by the interval they had fought their way back to level matters.
They were level again at 20-all by the 56th minute and again at 23 each in the 72nd. But with six minutes of normal time remaining the hosts scored a vital try, and in time added they kicked a controversial penalty to deny the Seasiders of what would have been a deserved bonus point.
The Cockles were ahead after only four minutes with George Meadows’ penalty and the fly-half was soon converting a try by left wing Tom Kill
Direct from the restart, Kill was in again at the left corner with Meadows converting for that 17 point advantage, but Weston were soon on the scoreboard.
Exmouth were penalised and skipper George Sparks opted for a five metre line-out from which Jamie Rudkin scored and the flanker repeated the score seven minutes later following a strong drive by Gavin Simpson. It was Rudkin’s 11th try of the campaign.
Mal Roberts added the goal points and on the half-hour, quick hands by the midfield put Matthew Watkins in. The try went unconverted but the Seasiders were now back on level terms.
Twelve minutes into the second half Meadows kicked his second penalty but Weston replied with a similar score from James Mackay, who had come off the bench to replace the injured Andrew Evans. Another Meadows penalty arrived after Roberts was yellow carded, but once again Mackay equalised.
But a sweeping move by Exmouth which covered 50 metres gave a try to No 8 Dave Kimberley and in stoppage time, Meadows nailed his fourth penalty to seal the match.
It was the 15th time that the Seasiders had been penalised against a mere five for the hosts and it was awarded as the Exmouth pack was in retreat at a rate of knots at a set scrum, a mystifying decision.
Weston: C Young, P Sprague, A Evans (J Mackay 50), G Wright, M Watkins, M Roberts, J Reid, S Donegan (M Truscott 85), D Burge (G Cooper 82), D Swann, A Glen, G Sparks (c), J Rudkin, R Bignell, G Simpson.
