Seasiders triumph at Bideford

Weston travelled to Bideford for the first time in a league fixture and a very tough encounter ensued. this was to be expected as the Chiefs have a proud home record and did the double over promoted Ivybridge last year.

Weston took the lead through a penalty by Fly half Glenn Dickson but this was soon cancelled out by the hosts. Penalties were then exchanged before centre Kirk Middlemiss had to leave the field of play with a knee injury. This resulted in a reshuffle in the backs with replacement Dan Lomax moving to fly half and Dickson moving to the centre. Weston could have taken the lead near half time when a fine break by outside centre Robbie Mackay ended with a misdirected pass to full back Ross Bennett with the line gaping.

With the scores level Weston started the second half with a renewed vigour and eventually breached the hosts line when a fine passage of play involving flanker Rich Bignall and prop Ollie Streeter ended with Lomax ghosting through a gap to put Dickson over in the corner. The conversion was missed but shortly after the restart the game was held up for fifty minutes following a nasty looking neck injury to the Bideford openside which required an ambulance. Credit must go to both the Weston Physio Mike young and his Bideford counterpart for the way in which they dealt with the injury.

When the game eventually restarted it was Bideford who looked the more likely and indeed they drew level when a powerful drive by their forwards ended with a well deserved try.In fact the hosts then took the lead for the first time when Weston infringed.
This seemed to galvanise Weston and they were soon back in front when a moment of brilliance from Lomax found him the space to get through for a tremendous score which was converted by Dickson. Weston were now taking charge and Dickson extended the lead after a bone crunching tackle by Mackay led to Bideford infringing inside their twenty metre area.

A great move involving flanker Shaun Eaton number eight Tom Crossman and the ever reliable lock Ash Russell ended with Dickson crossing for his second try and twenty first point of the match.

With a much changed side this game was a potential banana skin for Weston however the players who came in all performed admirably. Crosssman and right wing Troy Hannam on debut had very good games and Lomax was a revelation at fly half. Flanker Rich Bignall was superb throughout as was Mackay in the backs.

Team
1. Darren Crompton ( Replaced by Mike Hocking 40)
2. Rich Ford
3. Ollie Streeter
4. Bryan Webb ( Replaced by Paul Sprague 60)
5. Ash Russell
6. Shaun Eaton
7. Rich Bignall
8. Tom Crossman
9. Hayden Tuttiett
10. Glenn Dickson
11. Troy Hannam
12. Kirk Middlemiss ( Replaced by Dan Lomax 15)
13. Robbie Mackay
14. Chris Young
15. Ross Bennett