Tribute Somerset 2 North

Weston Athletic 39 Midsomer Norton 2ndXV 19

Weston's Development Squad welcomed league leaders Midsomer Norton to The Rec this weekend and put in a great performance to take all 5 points.

Norton arrived with reduced numbers following the familiar Friday night cry offs, but this is to take nothing away from Weston who enjoyed the perfect conditions to score 6 tries to 3.

Things started well for Weston having soaked up early Norton pressure when scrum half Ben Searle darted blind to run in from 30m after 9 minutes. Conversion missed.

Norton then came back well and took the lead with a converted try following a series of strong carries. 5-7.

Weston responded well from the restart with the excellent Harry Long reclaiming brilliantly in the air and a subsequent penalty was slotted by skipper Dan Prime. 8-7.

The game then ebbed and flowed before a nasty gash to flanker Kieran Shelley saw him enroute to A&E and a yellow card picked up by Mike Leahy for a legs above the horizontal tackle looked to have swung things the way of the visitors.

But it was the home side who seemed to gel further and regroup and they added to the lead when Dan Prime took a return pass to loop around Norton's winger and score in the corner.

Half time 13-7.

Second half and Weston took control. Lots of early pressure resulted in a break on the outside for debutant Sam Webb-Wood who was too strong for the covering defence and he scored on 46 minutes. Prime added the extras 20-7.

Weston were playing good rugby now and they got the bonus point try 5 minutes later when the returning Stefan Thomson who was playing his first game in 2 seasons following dislocated shoulders ran in unopposed after the home side moved the ball around the park really well. Conversion added 27-7.

Weston should've have seen the game out from here, but they very nearly imploded.

Weak tackling let Norton in at the corner to bring the score back to 27-12, before Norton scored their 3rd try following a great period of pressure in Weston's 22.

Conversion added and all of a sudden it was 27-19 with the home side trying to wrestle back momentum.

Fortunately it was long before Weston were back on top following some fantastic carries and offloads from the back row of Henry Bigwood, Sam Webb-Wood and Jake Grimes.

With Weston on the front foot a pass back on the blindside from Ben Searle saw Harry Long outpace the Norton backline to score on 69 minutes. Conversion added 34-19.

Weston put the icing on the cake 5 minutes from time when Dan Prime popped up to finish a great set phases to score in the corner. Conversion missed.

Final Score 39-19.

This was a great performance from Weston who bounced back really well following last week's dissapointing loss.

Norton deserve huge credit for the performance they put in and a special mention to their outside half and captain who was a credit to the club displaying outstanding character.

For Weston there were s lot of good performances.

The back row units stood out in the pack, whilst Dan Prime, Mike Leahy and Troy Hannam shone in the backline.

Man of the Match was Rob Tollan who was outstanding all over the park. Well done mate!

Next week we are away at Edwardians. They are now top of the league and so the challenge is the same again. Cheers