SSE National League 3 South West

Weston-super-Mare 19 Newton Abbot 13 

Replacement Tom Main; credit: Andrew Collins

Report by Tony Russell

The scoreline at the end of normal time was 19-13 and during those final minutes, Newton Abbot were intent on the converted try which they needed to bring off a late victory.

With the exception of the surreal 83-19 win against the Devon visitors in the corresponding fixture last season, matches against Newton Abbot are invariably tight affairs, and this was no exception.

Mackay then struck a post with an intended penalty but made amends two minutes later with a 40-metre effort, but was immediately cancelled out in kind by visiting fly-half Laurence May.

Weston then went on to the attack again with nine phases of possession and they were rewarded with a brace of penalties by Mackay in the space of four minutes.

The hosts were now leading by 19-8 at the break, but Newton Abbot reduced their arrears two minutes into the second half with a try by flanker Ben Cole following a driven line-out.

It was now Weston’s turn to attack with three attempted pushover tries, but they came away with nothing.

As the match progressed, play swung from end to end after a stunning counter attack involving Matt Watkins and replacement Ross Bennett, Sylvan Edwards was thwarted at the left corner.

Then came those final 10 minutes and things were not looking good for the Seasiders. James Mackay had retired with a hamstring injury, Morrissey was already in the sin bin and Sparks joined him with two minutes remaining.

But brave defending all across the team gave them their second successive victory after losing the previous seven.

In amongst this fine team effort there were some outstanding individual performances, namely by hooker Craig Withers and No 8 George Sparks.

Withers was ever prominent with his strong charges and his feeding of the line-out, while Sparks continued his excellent form.

Eighteen-year-old flanker Ben Cox put in another good effort as did Sam Smee, who has successfully switched from centre to scrum-half. Then there was James Mackay’s 14-point contribution.