Weston miss out on bonus point in tight victory

This rearranged game played under lights on Thursday eveningin front of a large crowd produced some tremendous moments between some pretty average fare.
The hosts started well and were soon on the attack. Centre Kirk Middlemiss tore through the visitors defence but was stopped close to the line. Field position led to a penalty but fly half Dan Lomax hit the post with the attempt and Petherton counter attacked and the first of twenty three penalties given by Weston as opposed to the visitors three gave full back Harry Roberts the opportunity to put them in front which he duly dispatched. Weston then had the lions share of possession for a while but could not break through and Petherton began gaining momentum and increased their lead when prop Kyle Prescott scored after a sustained period of pressure. Roberts converted to put the visitors ten points up. Weston were rocking but with their dominance at the set piece they always knew they could bounce back and after half an hour they did so with a try which was all about the front row. After strong breaks by props Sam Coles and Ollie Streeter it was the third member of the triumvirate Hooker Mike Hocking who benefitted from his partners work to cross. Lomax converted but that turned out to be the final score of the first half.
The second half began with an invigorated home side piling pressure on and after speedy left wing Matt Watkins went on a blitzing run full back Ross Bennett was on hand to score in the corner. Lomax converted from the touch line and did so ten minutes later when a tremendous back move started by dangerous centre Huw Morgan and carried on by Lomax led to right wing Chris Young who had a superb night crossing wide out on the left.

With Weston eleven points to the good and searching for the bonus point the wheels started to come off. Despite their obvious dominance in the set piece the referee started penalising the hosts and with the ruck and break down areas becoming a complete mess it seemed that one side were saints and the other were sinners. Weston didnt help themselves with needless off sides but still held out until the last minute when the saintly Ash Russell whose last yellow card was five years ago along with Streeter and the not so saintly Bryan Webb all received ten minutes in the bin to allow Petherton to push the dwindling Weston pack over their own line with Gibbs getting the final touch.

Roberts converted to give the visitors a precious bonus point in their fight against relegation.

Westons slim hopes of reaching the play offs remain intact.

Weston
Tries
Hocking Bennett Young
Cons
Lomax 3

North Petherton
Tries
Prescott Gibbs
Cons
Roberts 2
Pen
Roberts