Sat 23 Apr 2022, 15:00
Tribute South West Premier
Weston-super-Mare 27 Bournemouth 10
Report by Chris Heath
Although not the most fluent end of season game due in part to Bournemouth’s resilience and Weston's far from thrifty finishing at least the large crowd that turned up saw some fine passages of play throughout.
Players, officials and supporters observed a one-minute silence before the Bournemouth game in memory of former Weston captains Clayton Hope (1959/60 and 1965/66) and Peter Jenkins (1968/70), who recently passed away.
On what was scrum half Ross Bennett's 223rd and final game for the Seasiders 1stXV, it was fitting that he was involved in the first try when he took a quick tap to put hooker Aaron Thompson over.
Fly half Chris Young on his two hundredth first team appearance slotted the conversion from the touch line and added a penalty shortly after.
Weston then lost on form full back Jack Curtis to a nasty looking ankle injury which resulted in Bennett relocating to full back and the introduction of JJ Williams to the number nine slot.
Bournemouth hit back with a well executed converted try to put them only three points in arrears but then followed some bad luck and some missed opportunities for the hosts with centre Cameron Maslen crossing near the sticks only for the try to be disallowed for a forward pass by his centre partner Dylan Power and then an excellent break by Williams being thwarted by a dropped pass.
Tothill was then held up over the line before a pinpoint kick to the corner by Young and a battering of the visitors line eventually ended with open side flanker Jack Woodland crossing to give Young another tricky conversion which he slotted and it was the double centurion who then slotted another three points on the stroke of half time.
The second half was more a war of attrition with Bournemouth cutting the lead to ten points soon after the restart. Weston had more chances but another exciting break by Williams and a chip through by Young which wasn't cleanly gathered added to the exasperation.
However with the scrum once again rock solid after a couple of worrying moments in the first period Weston finally put a tremendous move together which ended with a lovely break by Maslen ended with Power crossing near the sticks to make Youngs conversion a relatively easy one.
Roaa Bennett leaves the pitch after his 223rd and final game for Weston-super-Mare 1stXV
That ended the scoring but with Bennett leaving the field to rapturous applause just before the final whistle on his last appearance it was fitting that Weston ended with a far from comfortable but ultimately deserved victory.
For Weston Tothill and Thompson were excellent throughout both in attack and defence. Young and Maslen were also impressive.
Weston finish in fourth place in the Tribute South West Premier table.
Weston-super-Mare scorers - tries: Aaron Thompson, Jack Woodland, Dylan Power; cons: Chris Young (3); pens: Chris Young (2).
Bournemouth scorers - try: Jordie Wayman; con: Grant Hancox; pen: Grant Hancox
