Weston gain valuable bonus point victory

Match report by John Harding.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Collins.

Weston-super-Mare ended their run of five league games without a win as they ran in four tries in their 34-20 home victory over relegation threatened Coney Hill.

The much needed try scoring bonus point, only their second of the season, took the Seasiders 18 points clear of Cheltenham Tigers - the first of the three sides in the relegation zone.

The visitors were always playing catch-up rugby but were within four points going in to the final ten minutes but a penalty and a converted try, when Coney Hill's flanker Tom Bozzard was in the sin-bin, sealed the game.

Coney Hill suffered an early setback when No.8 Sid King had to leave the pitch due to an injury after just ten minutes to be replaced by Andy Macrae and it was Weston who were the first to get points on the board.

A couple of drives set up lock Andy Glen for the touchdown with fly-half James Mackay adding the conversion, to take his past 100 points for the season, and a penalty midway through the half.

Coney Hill got their first points through a try from centre Craig Overthrow but Weston quickly cancelled that out as South African born centre Dewey Swartbooi's break led to a try from full back Joe Waterman.

Mackay added the conversion but the visitors reduced the deficit before the break through a try from wing Danny Davis and a penalty from Patrick Knight to leave Weston 17-13 at the interval.

Weston were quickly out of the blocks from the restart as scrum half Jack Conway darted over the line from a tap penalty for Weston's third try, converted by Mackay to increase the gap to 11 points.

Coney Hill came back as Davis went over for his second try, converted by replacement Rory Baker, to give the visitors a potential loosing bonus point and set-up an exciting final ten minutes.

Mackay took his tally in the game to 14 points as he kicked a penalty and the conversion of the bonus point try as Weston skipper George Sparks gathered his own chip ahead to score by the posts.

On Saturday Weston 1st XV are away to Chinnor who lost 36-10 at home to second placed Hartpury College

Weston-super-Mare: Joe Waterman; Steve Thompson, Jon Gallagher, Dewey Swartbooi (James Reid, 65), Paul Sprague; James Mackay, Jack Conway; Dave Swann (Simon Williams, 65), Craig Withers, Steve Donegan, Andy Glen, Ash Russell, George Sparks (capt), Ed Saunders, Gavin Simpson (Barry Sparks, 78).
Scorers - tries: Joe Waterman, George Sparks, Jack Conway, Andy Glen; cons: James Mackay 4; pens: James Mackay 2.

Coney Hill: Martin Knight, Danny Davis, Craig Overthrow, Sean Felice, Patrick Knight; Ryan Barnett, Rob Cooke; Simon Ellacott, Ryan Nicholls, Gary Preen, Chris Cooper, Jack Robson (Martin Jordan, ht), Joe Gardiner (Rory Baker, 46), Tom Bozzard, Sid King (Andy Macrae, 10).
Scorers - tries: Danny Davis 2, Craig Overthrow; con: Rory Baker; pen: Patrick Knight
Yellow card: Tom Bozzard, 74.

Referee: Ed McWalter (Gloucester).