Weston-super-Mare RFC

Weston arrived at Nailsea in plenty of time....or so they thought. With both clubs websites stating it was a 15.00 hours KO and even a phone call to Nailsea on the Wednesday confirming this, Weston were a little surprised to see the Nailsea players warming up on their arrival.

The KO time was in fact 14.30 for some strange reason and a compromise was met with the official and the game would KO at 14.45!

Now the Weston players knew that Nailsea would be looking to avenge the 50 odd point defeat that they had inflicted on them back in December so they had to make the advantage of playing down the slope in the first half count.

Before the game started Weston’s veteran hooker David Burge was somewhat a little concerned by the sight of ex Bristol, Wasps and England front rower Jason Hobson mingling with the Nailsea pack and so went into hiding in the changing rooms.

After a short while and with Burge now sporting a clean pair of underpants and haven been given the reassurance that Hobson was only there in a coaching capacity Weston were able to start the match.

The first twenty minutes were not pretty from Weston and it was effectively this period that cost them the bonus point having butchered several try scoring opportunities. Harry Nash made an early break but as the try line beckoned he held onto the ball and the moment was lost.

Centre Robbie Mackay then made a lovely break but was tackled near to the try line. The ball was recycled by Ollie Trott who popped to Burge to score an obvious try......but for some strange reason the official disallowed it and did not give a reason why!

Weston were then awarded a penalty and decided to kick to the corner. A very basic but effective lineout move saw the forwards drive to the line for the returning Dave Steele to score. George Chapman missed the conversion.

Another break by Mackay gave him the space to pass to winger Mike McCarthy who was able to outpace his opposite number to score in the corner. Chapman again missed the kick and it soon became clear that Weston would have to deal in tries to win the game.

Soon after this Weston were scoring their third. A solid catch and drive by the Weston pack saw Burge splinter off from the maul and attack the blindside where Trott was able to put McCarthy away for his second, conversion was again missed.

0-15 was the half time score and Weston were kicking themselves not to have scored more as they had all the possession.

There was not much to write about in the second half other than that the Weston defence held firm......until the hour mark that was. For some reason Jon Filer and Ollie Caton both looked at each other while the fly half walked through a gaping hole to score a converted try and make the score line look closer than what the game actually was.

With the final play of the match, Weston lost Sam Fisher to the sin bin as Nailsea were awarded an easy kickable penalty that would have secured them a losing bonus point. Strangely they elected for a scrum and then threw the ball into touch....moment missed!

It was sad for Nailsea that the loudest cheer from their supporters was for a Weston knock on!

It was a game that Weston never looked like losing, but they sh ould have secured a bonus point.....nevertheless another good double over their neighbours.

Weston United scorers - tries: Mike McCarthy (2), Dave Steele; yellow card: Sam Fisher

Report by Stuart Board