Weston entertained Bournemouth at the rec in this third round of the South West Premier campaign and looking to improve on their performance at Newton abbot last week. The game was very keenly contested and the lead changed hands several times as each side sought to close things out and achieve a win.
Weston took an early lead when Jack woodland was on hand to finish a sweeping move to the right wing registering his first try for the club. Mackay’s attempted conversion went just wide. Weston defended well as Bournemouth came back at them and then applied pressure of their own from a line out when the forwards drove to the line for Mark Turton to score Weston’s second. This was also his first for the club and gave Weston what looked to be a comfortable lead after 18 minutes.
Bournemouth upped their work rate and they scored a try when their backs broke through the defence. Stewart touched down and Hancock got the conversion with 24 minutes gone.
Bournemouth were to score a second try as their scrum half Hardcastle darted through a stretched Weston defence and Hancock got the extras again to put Bournemouth in front.
Weston pressed strongly and could not keep control of the ball and thus missed two clear chances to score. Right on 40 minutes a neat well timed pass from Mackay saw Nel run a beautiful line and he score near the posts. Mackay got the conversion and Weston went into half time with a 17-14 lead.
Early in the second half Hancock scored a try and converted it as Weston appeared to have gone off the boil at the opening of the second half. However just three minutes later they were pressing hard at the Bournemouth line and Tuttiett crossed for a try . The conversion attempt by Mackay was just wide but Weston had a narrow lead with the scoreline at 22-21.
Weston infringed at the breakdown and Hancock slotted the penalty for Bournemouth to retake the lead with nearly 15 minutes of the second half gone
Hardcastle broke through again from 15 metres out and scored a try which was not converted. This extended their lead to seven points and this was trimmed back by Mackay who slotted a penalty from 35 metres.
The seven point lead was re-established when Hancock struck a penalty. The last ten minutes were hectic and nail biting as Weston threatened to score but at full time, although Weston had scored four tries and earned a bonus point the visitors hung on to win by 25-32.
Weston’s problems at the breakdown continue and they gave away seven penalties in the first half which prevented them from developing any momentum. They gave away far fewer in the second half but still handed possession to their opponents too often. They will need to be more clinical and effective at the breakdown if they are to secure their first win in this league, but if they can attack with the speed shown this week they should be confident of giving next weeks opponents Bracknell a stern test.