Weston win first round match to reach quarter finals.

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.

They 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 whil 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: M Burns, P Sprague, G Wright, G Kimmins, M Watkins, C Young, J Reid, S Donegan, C Withers, M Truscott, H Somers, G Sparks (c), K Hobbs, R Bignell, J Rudkin. Reps used: P Hobbs, G Cooper, S Eaton, S Fisher, J Filer, C Hurd. Rep not used: D Steele.

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