1st XV
Matches
Sat 14 Oct 2023  ·  Regional 1 South West
Weston-super-Mare RFC
1st XV
Tries: J Davis (2), T Sugg, J Burgess, D LomaxConversions: A Tilsley (4)Yellow Carded: G Carpenter
33
14
Matson
Tries: F Jones, M KnightConversions: C Gwilliam (2)Yellow Carded: S O’Malley, S Jackson, L Keating
Weston run in five tries to secure their first win of the season

Weston run in five tries to secure their first win of the season

John Harding14 Oct 2023 - 15:51
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Bonus point win for the Seasiders

Weston finally got a win under their belt with a bonus point victory over Gloucester side Matson, who had been progressing up the divisions in recent seasons.
Weston started circumspectly understandably due to their recent form but gradually came into the game and produced some excellent play in the second period.
Kiwi Jay Davis scored a try in each half for the hosts to help steer his side to a much-needed try-scoring bonus point, but the Seasiders remain at the foot of the table, two points behind Matson.
"It's great to get that first win of the season, and you can see the squad are definitely improving each week," Davis told the Weston club's website.
"We've had a challenging start to the season with some hard games, but we are starting to shape up. Our performance against Matson showed that we have the potential.
"Both sides were fighting for everything in this game; Matson gave all they could, but I guess we outperformed them. The lads are starting to enjoy their rugby, and we want to keep improving."
The hosts took the lead in the fifteenth minute when flanker Davis broke several tackles to score the opening try following some great backs-handling.
Matson hit back almost immediately with a converted try to put the visitors in the 7-5 lead, which they held until half time.
The second half was a different story; with the introduction of Chris Young at full-back and Tom Burge alternating between flanker and hooker, the side immediately looked like a more cohesive unit.
Centre Huw Morgan almost retook the lead, but having got through the defence, he unfortunately dislodged the ball over the line. But Weston were now looking confident, and allied to creeping ill-discipline by the visitors, Weston produced a purple patch of entertaining fifteen-man rugby.
From a dominant scrum, the ball was passed wide to the right, where Young was stopped just short of the line, but skipper Tom Sugg was on hand to crash over shortly after. Fly-half Archie Tilsley slotted an impressive conversion.
Weston's third try came when Weston stole Matson's ball and ran the ball wide right to wing Joe Burgess, who had relocated from full-back to accommodate Young. Tilsley again provided an excellent conversion.
Matson kicked the restart straight out, and from the dominant scrum that resulted, Weston ran the ball right with Young carving through before offloading to Burgess, whose speculative inside pass was met by the excellent Davis to go under the sticks, making Tilsley's conversion a simple one.
Weston's final try was scored after another Matson attack ended with the hosts gathering the ball, and once again, Young broke down the right before producing a fantastic inside kick to put influential scrum-half Dan Lomax in space. The number nine brilliantly kicked on and gathered the ball to dive under the posts for another tremendous try. Tilsley added the extras, and although the visitors scored a late consolation, which was converted, Weston had done enough for an ultimately comfortable win.
All eighteen players in the squad contributed, with Davis and fellow flanker Sam Fisher outstanding. The scrum without talisman Sam Coles was still a powerful unit producing good ball for the backs. The introduction of Young as full-back was a master stroke by coach David Burge. The only disappointment was for winger Dominic Marshall, who gave way to Young despite having a fine game with several probing runs allied to a safe defensive display.
Weston can be buoyed by this performance, which cheered up the loyal supporters who had, until this game, not had much to shout about.
The Seasiders travel to face fourth-placed Devonport Services, who narrowly lost 12-11 at league leaders Chew Valley, kick-off 3 pm.

Match details

Match date

Sat 14 Oct 2023

Kickoff

14:30

Competition

Regional 1 South West

League position

11
Matson
12
Weston-super-Mare
Team overview
Further reading