Tribute Somerset 2 North

Oldfield Old Boys 2ndXV 13 Weston Athletic 38

The Athletic travelled to Oldfield's Bath ground looking for their third win in a row, but it was the Bath outfit who started the game with more energy and possession.

Good defensive work by both forwards and backs, and some simple handling errors prevented Oldfield from scoring a try but they were on the scoreboard first with a penalty to lead 3-0 after 5 minutes.

Weston were still under some pressure when a long clearance kick by Prime bounced awkwardly and Watkins gathered the ball, stepped past two defenders and used his electrifying pace to sprint away and score under the posts.

Lomax converted and this excellent individual try seemed to wake Weston up and they began to take better control, particularly in the forwards.

A series of forward drives took play within 10 metres of the Oldfield line and Leahy picked up from the base of a ruck side stepped a defender and broke through to score a try. The conversion was missed and the lead was cut just before half time by a second Oldfield penalty.

Oldfield started the second half determined to make up the six point deficit but the Athletic forwards proved to strong in both the set piece ad loose play and after good work in a driving maul and a series of rucks Lomax and Prime were able to work the all wide.

Ben Wheeler drew his man and gave a sweetly timed pass to Watkins who outpaced the remaining defence to score his second. Lomax converted andWeston looked to be comfortably placed at 6-19 with half an hour to go.

Credit to the Old Boys who never gave up and following some good work and a strange lapse in defence they scored a try when their number 8 broke through three tackles. This converted try closed the gap but now Weston took full control.

More powerful mauling took play into the Oldfield 22 and quick passing gave Watkins a chance. He beat two despairing defenders and broke free to get round the last man and score under the posts for his third try of the afternoon and the bonus point for the Athletic.

Encouraged by this the forwards set up repeated mauls and from a series of penalties near the line, at which the Athletic chose to scrummage, saw several near scores until Disney was driven over the line to score in the corner. With the best kick of the afternoon Lomax converted from the touch line.

With seconds left to play a superb series of runs by forwards and backs combining saw the ball go through the hands of Ben Wheeler, Watkins, back inside to Monelle in support, Josh Wheeler, Lomax, and finally Prime to touch down for the sixth and best try of the game.

Lomax hit his fourth conversion and the ref blew for no side with the Athletic worthy winners in an entertaining game by 13-38.

This eighteenth win from twenty four starts absolutely ensures that Athletic can finish no lower than third and still, mathematically at least, in with a chance of finishing in second place in Tribute Somerset 2 North