Sat 7 Mar 2020, 14:30
NEWBURY BLUES 19 WESTON SUPER MARE 18
report by Chris Heath
Weston will be wondering how they didn’t come away with the points despite dominating proceedings for large periods of the match.
Weston started well and after Newbury conceded a penalty the catch and drive from the resultant line out led to loose head prop Sam Coles touching down. Full back Alex Howman converted.
Newbury hit back with a penalty by Captain Dan Thorne and then after Weston gave away another penalty lock Adam Neal was on hand to finish off a well contrived home drive.
Weston then had their chances to score but a ball lost forward over the line kept Newbury in the ascendancy until Howman gave the visitors the lead with another three pointer.
Thorne replied for Newbury and in an error strewn first half he then benefited again just before the break to give the hosts a four point lead.
Harsh words were said at half time but after Fly half Marcus Nel kicked the ball too far from the kick off the resultant scrum led to number ten Alex Bancroft breaking blind to go through a very large gap to put the hosts nine points to the good.
Weston finally woke up and started pummelling Newbury. Howman cut the lead to six and when another drive got near the line the ball was spun left to wing Sam Rees who crossed in the corner. The conversion was missed.
Weston then laid siege to the home line with both Coles and his front row partner Ollie Streeter along with replacement flanker Sam Fisher getting through loads of work.
Weston were dominant in the scrum and looked to be going under the sticks but the referee deemed that the ball has come away from number eight Brad Talbots clutches for the home scrum half to gleefully clear away the danger.
Weston then had a thirty three phase period of possession but despite Newbury flirting with offside the refs whistle stayed firmly in his pocket.
To be fair Weston also made bad decisions on occasions when attacking with a lack of patience at times when near the hosts line.Howman had the chance to give Weston victory in the last minute but his difficult attempt went narrowly left.
Weston should have been out of sight by now but a combination of bad luck bad decision making and some questionable calls meant that Newbury held on to give themselves hope of avoiding the drop and make Westons hopes of making the playoffs in the balance.
