Sat 14 Mar 2020
EXMOUTH 28 WESTON SUPER MARE 27
report by Chris Heath
This was a game that could have gone either way throughout with both sides having periods of dominance but both being unable to inflict the killer blow.
Weston started the brighter and after a couple of drives and some quality line out they took the lead when number eight Brad Talbot cut through to score under the posts. Fly half Archie Tilsley converting.
There then followed a period of pressure by the home side but the Weston line held. During this time Exmouth flanker Dave Bargent had to leave the field with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
Weston weathered the storm and increased their lead through a Tilsley penalty but the ten point gap was short lived as home fly half George Meadows added three points from a penalty.
After this there was a lot of huff and puff from both sides but it was the Cockles who took advantage of their share of possession with a well taken try by wing Lewis Geran . Meadows added the extras to even up the game.
Weston didn’t take this lightly and soon retook the lead when from a scrum Kadin Brocks released Talbot to the line.
Meadows added another penalty to reduce the lead to two points at half time.
Weston began the second half as they did the first and Exmouth infringed. Tilsley hit the post with his penalty attempt but Weston didn’t chase the kick and Exmouth retook the advantage when a kick and chase by their other wing Henry Goldson resulted in a try which Meadows did well to convert to give the hosts the lead for the first time.
In this topsy turvy game Weston right wing Chris Young was tackled into touch just short of the home line. Weston stole the line out and after a couple of drives Exmouth infringed.
Weston elected to scrum and were rewarded when an excellent miss pass by Weston skipper Marcus Nel found Rees who dived into the corner to even up the scores.
Exmouth then once again took the lead through the impressive Geran before the hard working Brocks then fed Rees who raced fifty metres beating several defenders on his way to the line.
Tilsley converted this try to give the visitors a narrow two point lead.
However with time running out Meadows kicked the crucial penalty to give the hosts the narrowest of victories to help in their relegation battle but Weston at least came away with a couple of bonus points to put themselves back up to third with all to play for.
