1st XV
Matches
Sat 10 Sep 2011  ·  National League 3 South West
Weston-super-Mare RFC
1st XV
Tries: M WatkinsConversions: J MackayPenalties: J Mackay
10
25
Newton Abbot

National League 3 South West Fixtures

Sat 10 Sep 2011KO: 14:30
Chinnor
12
Redingensians
5
Sat 10 Sep 2011KO: 14:30
Exmouth
16
Bournemouth
49
Sat 10 Sep 2011KO: 15:00
Amersham & Chiltern
3
Barnstaple
44
Sat 10 Sep 2011KO: 15:00
Old Patesians
54
Chippenham
27
Sat 10 Sep 2011KO: 15:00
Old Redcliffians
46
Bridgwater & Albion
7
Sat 10 Sep 2011KO: 15:00
Oxford Harlequins
30
Newbury Blues
8

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Sep 2011

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

13:15

Instructions

Weston-Super-Mare will be looking to build on last weekend's 34-6 win away to recently relegated Newbury Blues when they welcome Newton Abbot to the Drove Road Recreation Ground.

The Seasiders' skipper George Sparks has more reasons than most to forget Newton Abbot's visit in April when the Devon side won 37-22 and Sparks was injured which ruled him out of the Somerset County Cup final.

Sparks was was stretchered off in the 65th minute with the a leg injury and having used all of their replacements, and with flanker Kevin Hobbs in the sin-bin the Seasiders had no chance of pulling back a 15 point deficit.

He added: "It was obviously disappointing to miss out on the cup final victory but more importantly was the real hurt that we just didn't perform as we tailed off towards the end of last season.

"It was a great result at Newbury last Saturday but to be brutally hones with ourselves, they were average and we played patches where we played well where we were average and there is tasks to work on

"I see Newton Abbot as probably one of the strongest sides in this league this season as they have recruited well while retaining a number of players and they had a great result last weekend beating Old Pats.

"It shows what sort of quality they have within their squad so this will be a massive challenge for us but it will give us a realistic view o where we are as a 1stXV. squad.

"To be honest, last season we didn't really perform in our home games while attendances have increased. We never really put in a decent showing to say thanks to those supporters.

"We will be trying to make amends for that this season and trying to make our home form as good as possible because we are proud to play for weston and proud to play at the Rec."

Weston will be without centre Andy Evans, who scored a try on his debut last week, as he is unavailable for two weeks due to commitments with the Royal Logistics Corps.

Jon Gallagher comes in to partner Mal Roberts in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up but lock Ash Russell is fit again so replaces 2ndXV skipper Stuart Board on the bench.

Newton Abbot are unlikely to make many changes to the squad this Saturday though their director of rugby Phil Burford believes there is scope for improvement.

Burford isn't ready too much in to Weston's win at Newbury. He told the Herald Express: "It will be five or six weeks into the season before patterns start to emerge.

"Newbury came down from National Two last season so you don't know whether they are in free-fall or if Weston have recruited well and are a lot stronger."


Competition

National League 3 South West
Team overview
Further reading