Weston-super-Mare host league leaders Camborne as the Seasiders repeat a Barbarians tradition
By John Harding
Weston-super-Mare face two challenging home games with Regional 1 South West leaders Camborne the visitors on Saturday (January 28, 2023) and, the following weekend, they welcome second-placed Chew Valley in a rearranged match from December due to a frozen pitch.
Camborne have won their last five league games and are 14 points clear of Chew Valley who have a game in hand. Meanwhile, eighth-placed Weston have lost their last four games and are just four points above the relegation zone.
When the sides met at the end of October, in what was Ashley Russell’s 400th appearance for the 1stXV, Weston fell to a 37-21 defeat despite a fighting performance in the second half.
So, with the Cherry & Whites will be looking to complete a season’s double but Weston will be mindful that this is their only defeat to Camborne in their last four league meetings and two of those victories have been on home soil.
Huw Morgan, one of the try scorers in last weekend’s 24-22 defeat away to fourth-placed Devonport Services, moves to inside centre with Joe Burgess and Kyran Devitt, who had a late call-up last Saturday, on the wings.
James Mackay reverts to his usual fly-half berth while in the pack there is just one change with Billy Kirk promoted from the bench to replace Euan Tremlett in the back row.
Weston-super-Mare will mark the 50th anniversary [January 27, 1973] of ‘The Greatest Try Ever’ which was scored by Gareth Edwards for the Barbarians in their 23-11 victory over New Zealand in Cardiff.
It was the first time the All Blacks had lost to the Barbarians and the game will be shown on the Clubhouse Big Screen from 11.15am. In line with the Barbarians tradition, the Weston players will be wearing the socks of any of their former clubs.
Weston-super-Mare (home v Camborne, 2pm): Harry Butland; Kyran Devitt, Cameron Maslen, Huw Morgan, Joe Burgess; James Mackay, Jack Press; Sam Coles (capt), Gary Carpenter, Ollie Streeter, Ashley Russell, Andy Glen, Callum Kingscott, Billy Kirk, Ben Cox.
Reps: Martin Hakunavanhu, Joe Connolly, Jake Knight.
Weston United, who ran in nine tries in their 57-15 Counties 2 Tribute Somerset home victory over fellow strugglers Tor last weekend. There was a hat trick of tries for Hayden Main, with fellow wing Oli Caton and replacement Dom Marshall both crossing twice.
Dan Lomax, who moves from fly-half to scrum half on Saturday and will lead the side, was Weston’s other try scorer along with a first-half penalty try. Inside centre Archie Tilsley kicked five conversions.
On Saturday Weston United they travel to the South Bristol Sports Centre to face fifth-placed Imperial who were the 38-7 winners when the sides met last October when Harry Butland converted Joe Connolly’s first half try.
Weston United (away v Imperial, 2.30 pm): Chris Young; Hayden Main, Conor Maguire, Archie Tilsley, Hayden Main; Joe Thomas, Dan Lomax (capt); Rhys Matthews, Chris Burton, Steve Donegan, Ross Chesher, Josh Gardner, Jacob Simpson, Adam Fisher, Wilf Bright.
Reps: Sam Bethell, Dave Steele, Dan Press.
Scrum half Simon Owens will be making his 50th appearance for fourth-placed Weston Athletic on Saturday in their Counties 4 Tribute Somerset South home game to Yatton 2ndXV who are three places and 14 points below.
Owens, 29, marked his Athletic debut by scoring one of the eight tries in the 52-nil Tribute Somerset 2 North victory away to Chew Valley 3rdXV on March 11, 2017. He has now scored five tries, kicked 13 conversions and one penalty for the Athletic.
The other four Owens tries came as the Athletic ran in 12 tries in the 72-7 home victory over Tor 2ndXV last weekend to leave the Seasiders, with a game in hand, five points behind second-placed Crewkerne.
There were two tries each for James Disney and Tee Masilela, plus one apiece for PJ Grimes, Jack Bridgman, Dylan Way, and Rich Frost, who also added five conversions, with Owens slotting one between the uprights.
Weston Athletic (home v Yatton 2ndXV, 2 pm): Rhys Williamson; Tee Masilela, Jack Bridgman, Dom Marshall, Tom Blyth; Josh Cook, Simon Owens; Lucas Williamson, Harry Nash, Chris Sewell, Simon Hudson, Rich Frost, Blake Knowlson, Vinnie Jones, Mark Walker.
Reps: Darren Wheatley, Grahame Hill, Les Richards, James Hughes, PJ Grimes, Ross Kilcoyne, Dylan Way.
