Weston 24 - 33 Bath

For the third season in succession the students of Bath University visited Weston in the first round of the Somerset cup where they faced a much changed Weston side fielding two debutants, Charlie Brabham at prop and Adam Fisher at hooker.
Weston started strongly and took an early lead with a George Chapman penalty after 7 minutes.
Bath picked up the pace and with close quarter offloads broke through Weston’s defence scoring three tries in fifteen minutes from Trench, Trehella and Smith with two conversions from Pitman to take a commanding lead 3-19.
Weston regained momentum and were desperately unlucky to be denied a try from a series of forward drives shortly before half time when replacement prop Aaron Solomon seemed to have touched down.
The second half opened with Weston wresting control and they scored a great team try touched down by Sugg, converted by Chapman.
Weston kept control and they scored another good team try after excellent work by both backs and forwards touched down by vice captain Kirk and converted by replacement fly half Arch Tilsley which left Weston adrift by just two points. A wonderful break out and touch down by replacement Alex Howman was disallowed for a hotly disputed knock on 40 metres back near the halfway line.
Bath defended like tigers but Weston’s backs eventually broke through and Morgan scored a try , converted by Tilsley to take the lead for the first time with the clock on normal time on 37 minutes.
Bath were not to be denied and they attacked at great speed scoring a try from close range by Stride converted by Rose. Just three minutes later, and late into injury time the students sealed victory for the second successive time in this stage of the cup as Rose crossed for a try as Weston’s defence finally ran out of steam. He converted his own try for the students to cap their afternoon.
Weston had taken control of play for virtually the whole of the second half but succeeded in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as a very fit student outfit stretched Weston’s defence at the death. So another season with no further interest in the Somerset cup is Weston’s reward whilst the talented Bath students begin another cup run.