Bracknell 22 - 13 Weston

Weston started the more energetic of the two sides. They put on the power at the scrum and won a penalty as a result. Shortly after Weston won ball at the ruck and Bracknell were penalised and then marched back for dissent. Mackay’s kick for goal was accurate and Weston took an early lead after just 4 minutes.
Weston ran the ball back from the restart and again Bracknell were penalised at the ruck. Mackay slotted a second penalty and looked on song.
With a secure defence Weston disrupted all Bracknell’s attacking efforts. Weston were prevented from scoring tries by a couple of forward passes and spilled balls, but they looked assured and must have been confident of increasing their lead.
All Bracknell had for their efforts was a penalty kicked by their young fly half from 30 metres after Weston infringed at the breakdown.
Weston were pressing hard and had the home front row in some difficulty when the referee judged Brabham to have committed a yellow card offence at the set piece although Weston had the put in and were just 10 metres from the Bracknell line. Weston were mystified and dismayed as this was the first penalty awarded against Brabham; he clearly had the Bracknell tighthead under pressure; the infringement, if that is what it was, was 10 yards from the Bracknell line; and the ref gave the penalty from the other side of the scrum
This allowed Bracknell to create some momentum and they pressed hard. With several minutes of time added on Hocking was judged to have tackled high and he joined Brabham in the bin. As Weston had two front row players off the pitch the game went to uncontested scrums and as a result Weston had to withdraw another player so were down to 12. Desperate defence kept the home side out until the 48th minute when they crossed for a try to take an 8-6 half time lead.
Weston were left scratching their heads at the start of the second half as Brabham was not allowed back on until he had served 16 minutes. The ref judged that time added on after the first 40 did not count towards yellow card time. Even the Bracknell bench were amazed. Weston were eventually restored to 15 men but in the meantime Bracknell had taken advantage and scored a try against a defence deprived of three players. They went further ahead when a penalty was awarded to Bracknell about 40 metres out. They elected to kick for goal and the referee signalled the posts, but then let Bracknell change their minds. They kicked for touch, won the line out and ran the ball wide scoring a third try whilst Weston were men down to take a 22-6 lead.
Weston were back down to 14 men when Robbie Mackay was judged to have infringed at the tackle, and was yellow carded, when to most of the supporters it looked as though the ball had been knocked on by Bracknell
Weston defended like tigers and attacked strongly despite being short staffed. They looked dangerous with ball in hand and when defending kept Bracknell in their own half. With 5 minutes remaining after superb work by forwards and backs Nel crossed for a try converted by Mackay but Weston were never going to have enough time to force more scores.
A win would have made the remaining part of the season an easier run. It would have opened a comfortable gap between Weston and the lower part of the table and there will be some must win games to come. Weston can take considerable credit for not losing heart when some mystifying decisions by the match official made their task virtually impossible. The writer is renowned for insisting that players, team officials and spectators respect the referee and his decisions. Weston, to their credit, showed no dissent. However a number of the decisions made by the ref were contentious and misguided. The laws were not followed and this certainly cost Weston valuable league points. In the words of Gunner Heath the ref had an absolute Alvin!
For one family with close ties to Weston Rugby this was a special day as George Bamsey made his first team debut off the bench as he was called up at short notice to cover for the unwell Tom Hocking. George acquitted himself very well indeed. George is not yet 19,and played junior rugby for Weston before joining the Bath Academy. He is currently a student at Hartbury College and dad, Jon Bamsey, was able to get to the game in time to see George take the field. Many congratulations to George and we are sure the whole family will be delighted.