Weston secure successive bonus point victories

match report from Tony Russell and John Harding, photos courtesy of Andrew Collins and his very learner apprentice, Phil Collins.

An almost surreal experience with the home side once again putting their supporters through the “mincer”.
Weston had looked the stronger side, but had contrived to lose a ten point lead, and with two minutes remaining trailed, by 17 points to 13. They then scored three tries in the last six minutes (including injury time) as the Oxford scrum imploded, discipline evaporated, and what had looked like a four point win for the visitors rapidly turned into a pointless afternoon as first a losing bonus point was snatched away, only to be compounded as the home team scored their fourth try at the final whistle.
A game of the proverbial “three halves” with Weston dominating the first half. Points should have been scored as Mackay uncharacteristically missed with a couple of early penalty shots, and it was twenty minutes before the deadlock was broken. Forward pressure resulted in a yellow card for visiting prop Barlow, and the Oxford pack was immediately shunted over the line for a standard forward try, touched down by No.8 Gavin Simpson. Mackay converted.
Ill fortune befell the visitors after 25 minutes when top scorer Stewart had to leave the field, ostensibly with concussion. The diminutive Cope went to fly-half and replacement Masparo to scrum half.
Mackay increased the lead with a penalty, but with half time approaching, Oxford mounted a rare attack. Prop Swann was despatched to the sin bin for a technical offence, and although the visitors were unable to move the home scrum, pressure on the line paid, and from a quickly taken penalty, visiting No. 8 Wellborn (one of three itinerant Antipodeans in the side…how do these fellows find their way to a place like Oxford.? Most of their mates are in Earls Court)..sneaked around the referee
for a five pointer which was well converted by Nutt.
Westons’ 10-7 lead disappeared within 3 minutes of the restart. Oxford has always had a lively set of backs who must have appreciated the wide flat firm Recreation Ground pitch, and they showed the threat when Andre cut a fine line through the centre for an excellent individual score under the posts. Nutt again converted for a 14-10 lead.
Mackay reduced this by three points with a second penalty, only for Nutt to reply. 17-13 with twenty minutes to go.
To their credit, Oxford raised their game during the second half. Their scrum enjoyed a period of parity and only stout midfield defence prevented further scores from their backs.
With two minutes of actual time remaining, Weston won a series of scrums on the opposition line.
The visiting front row was unable to stay down, their pack disintegrated, and scrum half Masparo despairingly kicked the ball out of the Weston scrum as it was shunting the opposition backwards to give referee Doug Neagle, who had a tidy match, the easiest penalty try decision he is likely to have.
Mackay converted. The miscreant went to the bin .
The referee announced that there would be five minutes injury time.
The restart was cleanly gathered and run back at Oxford. The play was halted some thirty metres out, but try scorer Wellborn turned villain as he inexplicably flyhacked the loose ball over his own dead ball line. More misery for Oxford as once again their ailing scrum was heaved over the line for Simpsons’ second touchdown. Mackay added the extras. 13-17 had become 27-17 in the space of two minutes.
There was more to come. Oxford had been penalised and Weston restarted with a penalty from the kick off. The lineout, which had been solid all day, was duly won, and a series of rolling mauls against a pack that was firmly stuck in reverse gear provided the opportunity for Sprague to dart over from five metres…a fitting reward for an excellent Club member in his 200th. match.
Mackay again converted from a wide angle to complete the scoring, and the Weston recovery.

Weston-super-Mare: Joe Waterman; Steve Thompson, Jon Gallagher, Dewey Swartbooi (Stuart Board, 67), Paul Sprague; James Mackay; Jack Conway (James Reid, 61); Dave Swann, Craig Withers, Steve Donegan (Simon Williams, 65), Andrew Glen, Ashley Russell, George Sparks, Richard Bignall, Gavin Simpson.
Scorers - tries: Gavin Simpson 2, Paul Sprague, pen try; cons: James Mackay 4; pens: James Mackay 2.
Yellow card: Dave Swann

Oxford Harlequins: Graeme Crapper; Huw Jones, Xavier Andre, Chris Tuatara (Ashlery Whittington, 62), Martin Nutt; Jeffery Stewart (Alasdair Maspero, 25), Anthony Cope; Simon Chadbone (Matthew Edney, 60), James Clark, Olly Barlow, James Eckert, Andrew Boyle, Ryan Newman, Matt Young, Jason Welburn.
Scorers - try: Jason Welburn, Xavier Andre; cons: Martin Nutt 2; pen: Martin Nutt.
Yellow card: Olly Barlow. Alisdair Maspero

Hartpury College remain at the top of the table after their 42-5 win away to second place Bourneouth, Old Patesians remain in third place despite their 56-15 defeat away to Redingensians.

Bridgwater & Albion were 28-19 home victors over Exmouth, Cheltenham won the basement battle beating fellow strugglers Coney Hill 24-22 while Barnstaple were the home 16-8 winners of the Devon derby clash at home to Newton Abbot

Cleve continue to look for their first win of the season after their 48-13 defeat at Chinnor and lets hope that first scalp doesn't come next Saturday as Weston will be the visitors to Cossham Street.