Sat 5 Nov 2011, 14:30
Somerset Cup – First Round
Yatton nil Weston-super-Mare 42
Report by Bob Hedges
AT half-time at North End Road, Weston looked to be on course for a mammoth score in this first round match in the Somerset Cup.
The Seasiders were 30 points to the good and within 15 minutes of the second period they had increased the margin to 42.
But that was the end of the scoring as Yatton camped in the Weston 22 for most of the rest of the match.
Seasiders’ coach Paul Redman had rested a few of his regulars to give the nod to the likes of prop Phil Hobbs and 17-year-old Sam Fisher on the bench, together with lock Harry Somers and colts centre George Kimmins, and it was the last two named who both had a good hand in their interval advantage.
Kimmins converted penalties in the second and 15th minutes while Somers produced a brace of catches and drives to provide tries for Steve Donegan and Jamie Rudkin, Kimmins converting once.
The score was now 0-18 and before the interval, veteran scrum-half James Reid worked the short side of a scrum to touch down and Kimmins was soon converting a try by George Wright who supported a break by skipper George Sparks.
Early in the second half Rudkin scored his second try which Kimmins majorised and another catch and drive from Somers resulted in a score by Richard Bignell, and at 0-42 another landslide was on the cards.
But suddenly, Yatton’s front five came to life with prop James Grimes and former Weston lock Tony Cottle to the fore and the Seasiders spent the following 30 minutes in defensive mode.
Even when they obtained turnover ball to release the pressure they were sent back by Yatton’s full-back Steve Pugh who had a splendid match.
But, try as they may, the Western Counties outfit were unable to penetrate the obstinate Weston defence.
Yatton: S Pugh, L Chambers, C Edwards (c), W Portas, D Silcock, G Osborne, L Richardson, J Grimes, P Catchlove, D Anderson, E Ryder, N Hynam, T McMaster, W Osborne, N Wakefield. Reps: R Hepworth, A Cottle, G Harry, A Noble, I Wilkinson, R Hancock, R Pearce.
Weston-super-Mare: Matt Burns; Paul Sprague, George Wright, George Kimmins, Matt Watkins; Chris Young, James Reid; Steve Donegan, Craig Withers, M Truscott, Harry Somers, George Sparks (c), Kevin Hobbs, Rich Bignell, Jamie Rudkin.
Reps used: Phil Hobbs, Glen Cooper, Shaun Eaton, Sam Fisher, Jon Filer, Chris Hurd. Rep not used: Dave Steele.
Weston-super-Mare scorers – tries: Steve Donegan, Jamie Rudkin (2), George Wright, James Reid, Richard Bignell; cons: George Kimmins (3); pens: George Kimmins (2); yellow card: Glen Cooper (62 min)
