Wingers take centre stage

WESTON’S wings took centre stage as Bridgwater were defeated by four tries to one at the Recreation Ground.

James Arnold scored in each half and Matthew Watkins touched down the final try as the visitors were condemned to yet another defeat.

However, there were times during this match that they hardly looked like a side heading for relegation, especially when they brought the score back to 10-5 with a try by lock Robert Thompson.

But Weston had led in the fifth minute with James Mackay’s angled penalty and he was soon converting the first of Arnold’s tries. A heel against Bridgwater’s put-in at a scrum by hooker Craig Withers saw Chris Young deliver the perfect scoring pass.

Then came Thompson’s reposte but the visitors then spent the remainder of the half in defence mode.

Mackay’s second penalty arrived in the 22nd minute but soon afterwards, the Weston centre was forced to retire with a serious looking hamstring injury. George Kimmins was his replacement.

Weston continued to apply pressure and Jamie Rudkin was held up over the line. But the hosts were rewarded in the sixth minute of time added when referee Chris Newton (Devon) awarded a penalty try which Mal Roberts converted for an interval score of 20-5.

Weston started the second half badly. A pass to no-one in particular fell to Bridgwater wing Kyle Giblett who took play to the Weston 22, but sound defence cleared the danger.

Weston, now facing the wind, then went on the attack and a deliberate obstruction on centre James Letherby brought a yellow card to visiting lock Alistair Blundell and a 20 metre penalty in front of the posts.

However, Roberts’ kick failed and within minutes Bridgwater’s skipper Sam Osborne was reducing his teams arrears with a similar kick.

Bridgwater, still playing with considerable intent, were now almost back in the match, but in the 68th minute they were on their way to defeat.

A powerful burst by prop David Swann and an accurate delivery produced Arnold’s second try and just before the end it was Arnold’s run down the left which led to Watkins’ score at the right corner. It was Watkins’ 12th try of the campaign.

Weston: C Young, M Watkins, J Letherby, J Mackay (G Kimmins 35), J Arnold, M Roberts, R Bennett, D Swann (D Price 76), C Withers, S Donegan, H Somers, A Russell, J Rudkin, R Bignell (G Wright 67), G Sparks (c).