The Athletic fielded what on paper looked a very strong side and had eight replacements This was reduced to seven by the time the warm up was over as the disconsolate Jed Gibson pulled a thigh muscle in the warm up and was forced to withdraw.

Winscombe were also mob handed and these days field a much stronger line up than they have in the recent past. They attacked vigorously from the start and their good organisation and Weston indiscipline led to a penalty after just three minutes.

The Athletic players had been warned by manager, captain, and referee not to argue about decisions but this advice was not heeded and back chat brought the penalty kick within range for the Winscombe 10 who duly converted.

The Athletic’s defence proved poor when the Winscombe scrum half made a quick break and Winscome were ahead as a result of the converted try by 10 points to nil.

Athletic did then manage some good passages of play with strong running by the centres and good support play from the whole pack. A quick break from third phase ball down the blind side saw McGrath sprint in for a try in the corner and despite missing the conversion Weston looked to be back in the game.

However the Winscombe team had spotted the Athletic’s defensive weakness and were soon further in front with another relatively soft try, again converted by the Winscombe skipper and fly half whose kicking game was putting Weston under pressure.

The next 20 minutes saw a much improved performance by the Athletic who scored a try from Hancock , which he also converted. Just three minutes later, Burns scorched through for an excellent try after good combinations of work by both forward and backs.

This levelled the scores at 17 each but Weston indiscipline again gifted Winscombe a penalty and at half time they held a narrow three point advantage.

The second half began as the first had with the Athletic gifting Winscombe an easy and unnecessary penalty. Winscombe applied further pressure and Weston’s defence allowed a couple of relatively simple tries.

When it was really too late to alter the outcome of the game Weston finally produced a more consistent game with some great driving mauls and good interplay by forwards and backs.

The Athletic came close to scoring a couple of times and did eventually drive Whately over for the try which earnt the team a losing bonus point in the dying seconds of this keenly contested game.

It was great to welcome back Ollie Trott at scrum half and also Shaun Eaton after a long lay-off as a result of the nasty injury he picked up in last season’s game against Lydney. Jake Whately was making his last appearance in Weston colours before heading off on his travels.

Ewen Kennedy made his senior debut and acquitted himself well.

Things are looking very promising for the Athletic with so many players available but they will have to work much harder to operate as a cohesive team to avoid the defensive lapses which cost them this game and they simply have to stop back chatting the referee – it was foolish and cost 9 points, and who knows, with better discipline in this department Athletic could have beaten a team where man for man they clearly were more able.

Tony Bush and Mark Walker are keen to get more Athletic players to attend a regular and specific training session in order to ensure that the defensive lapses which cost the team the match this week, can be addressed whilst also building some team cohesiveness.

Discussions have been circulating and players are invited to comment of the Weston Athletic facebook posts.