Sat 9 Oct 2021, 12:00
Weston Vets took to the pitch for the first time in some ten years and recorded a 14-5 home victory over touring West Midlands side Dudley Kingswinford RFC Old Boars on Saturday (October 9).
It was a very spirited performance from the opposition, who were the younger side of around 36. Weston Vets averaged at least 50 years of age, with Weston-super-Mare President, Barry Sparks, pushing up the average.
Sparks was the most reluctant to leave the action while the Weston-super-Mare physio, Mike Young, worked very hard to keep the remaining players on the pitch in what was a very physical game.
Weston used their superior weight tell in the first half, with runs from Tom Wheatley and Merv Down, fly-half Neil Coleman pinned the opposition back into their half. A simple switch in the centre allowed Alec Hughes to score under the posts for Coleman to convert.
It was much of the same in the second period, but the touring side would not lye down, and their younger backs moved the ball across the line creating space, and scoring in the corner.
Both teams felt the pace and several water breaks and another injection of pace by Hughes coming off his left foot and showing a clean pair of heels. He bulldozed over the whitewash. But in the spirit of Vets Rugby, he confessed to knocking the ball on.
With only 10 mins to go, full-back Adam Hobbs took the ball on with a 50 metre run to the line and, with a move of the hips, touched down under the posts, and Coleman was again on target with the conversion.
Both squads were thankful to hear the sound of referee Stuart Board blowing for full time after making sure that both sides played open rugby.
A great day was had by all, with beer pong being played late into the evening, and Weston Vets are now planning for another outing in the not too distant future.
