Seasiders deliver super six try display

match report by John Harding, photos courtesy of Paul Bignell.

Weston-Super-Mare eased any relegation fears they may have had as they run in six tries, to take a bonus point, in their 54-24 victory over Cheltenham Tigers at the Prince of Wales Stadium.

It was the first time this season that the Seasiders have passed fifty points as they condemn Cheltenham to eighth home defeat of the season leaving them six points from safety with five games to play.

Weston cruised to a 24-5 interval lead after tries from tighthead prop Steve Donegan, and wingers Paul Sprague and Steve Thompson with fly-half James Mackay converted all three to add to his second minute penalty.

Cheltenham scored their only points of the half on the half hour through a try from Worcester Academy second row Nile Dacres who made three senior games for the Warriors this season.

Mackay landed a second penalty shortly after the interval but then saw openside flanker Richard Bignall yellow carded allowing the visitors to score two quick tries.

Joe Garner crossed for the first with left wing James Whybrow, another Warriors Academy player with senior experience, with fly-half Michael Wilcox converting the second.

On the hour loosehead prop Dave Swann went over for Weston's bonus point try with Mackay adding the extras and his third penalty only for scrum half Ben Hough to pull one back for the home side.

The bonus point try was again converted by Wilcox but Weston were to score another 17 points in the final ten minutes with Mackay converting his own touchdown before adding his fourth penalty.

Just before the final whistle Bignall crossed for Weston's sixth try with Mackay converting to keep a clean sheet for the afternoon and take his tally for in the game to 29 points.

Cheltenham: Mark Cook; Richard Morris, Hamish Wrafter, Mark Whitney, James Whybrow; Michael Wilcox, Ben Hough; Stephen Moore, Ben Stew, Kieran Marshall, Phil Leibbrandt, Nile Dacres, James Comber (capt), Tom Lait, Joe Garner.
Reps: Jacob Leonard-Walters, Ben Allman, Max Richards.
Scorers - tries: Nile Dacres, Joe Garner, James Whybrow, Benjamin Hough; cons: Michael Wilcox 2.

Weston-super-Mare: Joe Waterman; Steve Thompson, Dewey Swartbooi, Jon Gallagher, Paul Sprague; James Mackay, Jack Conway; Dave Swann, Dave Burge, Steve Doneghan, George Sparks (capt), Ash Russell, Jamie Rudkin, Richie Bignell, Gavin Simpson.
Reps: Simon Williams, Sean Bennett, James Reid.
Scorers - tries: Steve Donegan, Paul Sprague, Steve Thompson, Dave Swann, James Mackay, Richie Bignell; cons: James Mackay 6; pens: James Mackay 4.
Yellow card: Richie Bignell

Other results from the weekend saw the other two sides in the relegation zone beaten with Coney Hill loosing 43-nil away to league leaders Hartpury College while Cleve lost 37-nil away to Newton Abbot.

Bournemouth remain in second place after their 40-10 home win over Oxford Harlequins while Old Patesians continue their chase in third place with their 36-nil win away to Bridgwater & Albion while Redingensians won 15-3 away to Barnstaple

Next Saturday Weston-super-Mare, who are ninth in the table, are at home to Oxford Harlequins who are just behind the Seasiders with an inferior points difference (-42 for Weston and -58 for Quins), kick off 2.30pm.

Quins have won only three of their nine games on the road this season - against the three in the relegation zone, but did beat Weston had to settle for a loosing point in their 20-14 defeat at North Hinksey in mid-November.

Blindside flanker George Wright scored Weston's only try of the game with fly-half James Mackay adding three penalties while Quins replied with tries from outside centre Martin Nutt, left wing Xavier Andre and No.8 Jason Welburn.

Fly-half Jeffery Stewart, who was one of three Quins players to be yellow carded by referee Mark Gregory along with Nutt and scrum half Alasdair Maspero, kicked two conversions.