Tribute Somerset 2 North

Weston Athletic 31 Bristol Barbarians 2ndXV 12

The Athletic faced Bristol Barbarians in the return fixture having secured victory earlier in the season on their first visit to Whitchurch.

The Barbarians fielded a strong side as their first team game had been cancelled but it was Weston that looked the stronger side throughout the game.

Weston were able to exert pressure from the start and worked the ball wide for full back Josh Wheeler to take an inside pass and score near the corner.

The Athletic allowed themselves to get drawn into a forward battle and not until they ran the ball on 16 minutes did they breach the Barbarian defence with Prime finishing off an excellent move and then converting his try.

Barbarians responded well and their forwards drove toward the line for a deserved try which went unconverted.

Near the close of the first half Weston attacked again from their increasingly dominant scrum and after having recycled the ball three times prop Harry Nash muscled over for the third try of the half.

The Athletic were very disappointed to find that the second half would have uncontested scrums as Barbarians could no longer field a front row.

Despite this Weston remained dominant and excellent work in the line out and loose maul allowed them to set up attacks and Ben Wheeler crashed his way through the centre for the bonus point try converted by Prime.

Barbarians brought on replacements in the backs who pressed the Weston defence hard and they got a score after a good attack and an excellent off load.

Weston's forwards continued to produce a very good display with second row Denning the pick of the team with some great line out work and some surging runs.

Weston's work rate paid off and after being stopped near the line several times the ball was worked wide to find prop Tom Wheatley loitering in the backs as he took a good long pass and dived over for the fifth try.

Weston were delighted to be able to get this bonus point win and to have secured the double over the visitors.

Their next match will be more challenging as they travel to Brislington to play Old Reds.