Nuttycombe scores on his senior debut but finishes on the losing side

Regional 1 South West
Devonport Services 55 Weston-super-Mare 7

Weston-super-Mare had been hoping to build on their win over Matson last time out, but hosts Devonport Services were looking to get back to winning ways after their narrow defeat at Chew Valley.

Despite the scoreline, Weston put up a great fight, and as the game progressed, both teams faced challenges with their lineouts, and the penalty count began to mount.

Despite these challenges, Weston's scrum performance was noteworthy, often pushing Devonport to the limit. But Devonport's precise kicking game consistently put Weston on the back foot.

The hosts opened the scoring after just two minutes when the ball was sent through the backs to flanker Liam Jarvis, loitering on the wing, to speed off down the touchline and touchdown.

The move was repeated minutes later, but on this occasion, inside centre Tom Davies was able to round behind the posts to give full-back Kieran Down an easy conversion.

Devonport continued to apply pressure, quickly moving the ball and forcing Weston's defence to scramble. A well-placed long kick behind the Weston defence required wing Ollie Caton to touch the ball down behind his line.

Weston's forwards demonstrated strength in the scrums but struggled to convert this advantage into points. Devonport's strategic play and effective kicking contained Weston mainly in their half.

Approaching the half-hour mark, Down added a penalty from in front of the sticks and added the extras to a second Jarvis try. Services went into the break with a 22-nil lead.

The side increased their lead ten minutes after the restart when replacement wing Charlie Groves marked his senior debut by racing down the touchline to score the bonus point try.

Down converted and added the extras to a second Davies try after another break down the touchline. From a tap penalty, Services worked the ball wide from left-wing Toby Knowles to score.

Midway through the second period, Services kicked a penalty to touch. Their pack drove towards the line from the lineout before the ball was worked out for hooker Aiden Taylor to score.

Down converted, and Services thought the Weston dam had cracks in it. There may have been gaps, but it did not stop them from trying to trouble the scoreboard.

A knock-on found Weston within 10 metres of the Devonport line. The scrum held, but a quick ball out and a spark of brilliance saw George Nuttycombe, in tandem with San Fisher, navigate through Devonport's defence to score a well-deserved try.

It was Nuttycombe's senior debut, having progressed through the Club's minis and juniors section, after coming off the bench for centre Cameron Maslen early in the second half.

Fly-half Archie Tilley had an easy conversion, and Weston was on the board at 48-7. But there was still time for a third Davies try, with Down's conversion completing the scoring.

Services move into third place while Weston remains at the foot of the table. They have a week off before the visit of eighth-placed Okehampton, who lost 29-21 at Matson, on November 4, 2023.

Devonport Services scorers - tries: Liam Jarvis (2), Tom Davies (3), Charlie Groves, Toby Knowles, Aiden Taylor; cons: Kieran Down (6); pen: Kieran Down.
Weston-super-Mare scorers - try: George Nuttycombe; con: Archie Tilsley