Weston 74-17 Newton Abbot

Weston were off the mark very quickly when they won a line out near the visitors line and a classic catch and drive saw Brabham touch down, his first try for the club. 7 minutes later and Weston won a second line out and repeated the trick with Bignell touching down. Mackay got the conversion and Weston had a 12 point lead. Weston kept threatening to score but made a number of errors before tidying up their play and scoring four tries without reply in a 14 minute burst. Full back Robbie MacKay scored a quick brace, the second of his tries earning Weston a bonus point and coming following a sweeping move from the kick off. Talbot finished a great series of plays to score a fifth try which James Mackay converted. Robbie MacKay then picked up another try to complete a first half hat trick as Weston’s backs ripped through the All Whites defence. Weston relaxed too soon and took their collective foot off the gas allowing Newton Abbot a pick and drive opportunity from short range and Radford touched down for the visitors on the stroke of half time. The conversion attempt was missed and Weston turned round 36-5 in front.
Despite fielding a depleted side compared with earlier in the season Newton Abbot started the second half with great determination and they score two tries in quick succession as Weston remained too passive after the break. All Whites hooker, Dore, was a constant threat and carried the ball very well and giving quick possession to the visitors backs. Touch downs from Vicary and Allen and a conversion from Throgmorton suggested a comeback might be on the cards. Weston however had other ideas and raised their game to play with ruthless and clinical skill.
They ran in six tries in the last 25 minutes. Brabham completed his brace by leaping over a ruck on the Newton Abbot line. Talbot scored his second of the day as the visitors defence began to crumble. Howman picked up two scores as Sugg, on for the injured Bignell, made headway down the left wing and passed to the Weston winger who made no mistake as he seized his chances. Weston ran the ball wide and found spaces all over the field as the All Whites tired and Robbie Mackay picked up a fourth try. The game was rounded off by a great interchange of passes between Bennett, on for Dickson, and Jones, resulting in Jones touching down for the home side’s twelfth try of the afternoon. James MacKay chipped in with a total of seven conversions and Weston were convincing winners by 74-17. Praise is due to the Newton Abbot side who have been beset by personnel problems, and who stuck at the task with grim determination, despite being overwhelmed, right up to the final whistle.
Today’s game saw the reformation of a long standing partnership in the Weston second row. Ash Russell and Andy Glen, who have played most of their rugby together in the boiler-room were both in the starting line up. Both players have had injuries and illnesses to overcome and both have young families. Despite this they have played a total of 663 first team games between them and they both made significant contributions today. Their longstanding partnership, which goes back to playing for Weston Colts nearly 20 years ago has been of huge value to the club. Everyone hopes that they have many games left in the tank.