Seasiders complete entertaining double over Fishermen

An excellent day out for the “Seasiders” and their supporters. Brixham has always been a good club to visit… A lively, partisan and occasionally excitable crowd, excellent beer and barmaids, and fine hospitality served up with a garnish of fiercely competitive on-field entertainment. Nothing has changed.

Weston had won on their own ground by 20-15 in a slightly misleading scoreline, but knew that this match was a potential banana skin. Coach Dan Parkes had gone public in his pre match exhortations, claiming that home advantage would be enough for the “Fishermen”….and after the first half, his prediction was very much on track.

Brixham were swiftly out of the blocks, harrying, chasing, tackling and supporting as though their very lives depended on it. Weston were a little bit lethargic in thought and deed and it was against the run of play that James Mackay slotted an easy penalty following pressure from the pack after 10 minutes. Lovell replied in kind for the home team on 17 minutes and converted a try by winger Davis after they had stretched play from side to side several times until Weston ran out of defenders.

This is Brixhams’ “modus operandi”, used to great effect this season but tellingly, it only worked the once as the visitors tightened up on their tackling. They were also alert to the much publicised effectiveness of No.8 Harris, who has supposedly been scattering opposition players, but had a pretty meagre return on rushing yardage. Nevertheless the home side led by 10-3 which was increased to 13-3 with another Lovell penalty. Mackay and Lovell then traded kicks on 33 and 37 minutes as Weston lost prop Donegan to the bin and the home side deservedly led by 16-6 at half time.

The second half was totally different as the visitors demonstrated why they have been amongst the front runners all season, scoring five unanswered tries as they upped their game and the Fishermen ran out of steam. The first came after five minutes when the pack got a trademark try having pushed the Brixham eight over their own line for skipper Dave Burge to claim the score. Mackay converted to close to 13-16 and ten minutes later converted a try from centre Sam Smee to ease Weston ahead. Lovell kicked a penalty to bring Brixham back to 19-20 following a second yellow card for the visitors, but once again the visitors made light of their player shortage. Winger Harry Jones, in a rich vein of form, made good ground, avoiding defenders with bewildering directional changes, and when finally tackled, delivered a sweet offload to the supporting Ash Russell, arriving just in time at full gallop to cross untouched. Mackay converted.

Three minutes later Smee scored his second, a replica of his first to increase the score to 32-19 with ten minutes to go. Brixham, to their credit, never gave up and threw everything at Weston. With five minutes remaining they mounted a rare and concerted attack on the visitors line, and with a try looking possible in the far corner, Weston “twisted the dagger” as full back Ross Bennett broke home hearts with a 75 metre interception to complete the scoring. The visitors had won the second half by 31 points to 3 and had scored 3 tries while down to 14 men.

Weston team..Bennett, Watkins (Blizzard),Smee, Edwards, Jones, Mackay, Waldon, Swann, Burge(c), Hobbs (Donegan), Somers (Glen) Russell, Eaton, Morrissey, Sparks.