Both teams knew that this was going to be a close encounter and so it proved. Taunton are on an unbeaten streak which goes back to their days in Western Counties, and Weston have had a good run of results since Christmas, losing only once.

A bracing wind, blowing straight down the pitch dictated that this would be a game of the proverbial “two halves.”

The visitors faced the elements and were three points down after only five minutes when Saunders kicked a regulation penalty. This was increased to ten points after 17 minutes when from a scrum on the Weston line, a planned back row move worked well to put winger Walker over for a converted try.

Weston reduced the arrears three minutes later when on a rare visit to opposition territory, following some concerted driving by their pack, with Richards and Sparks leading from the front, Dickson kicked a forty yard penalty…no mean feat in this wind.

10-3 did not really reflect Tauntons’ territorial advantage and a chance to improve on this was spurned when left wing Rudkin was inexplicably permitted to run fifty metres unmolested to within five metres of the Weston line. If he’d realised that he had a prop forward on his shoulder, he would doubtless have held on and scored himself. Instead his scoring pass found the “butterfingers” of Chase who knocked on when it was easier to score!

Nevertheless they increased the lead after 34 minutes when Saunders kicked a long range penalty which did little to soothe Taunton nerves, Half time was approaching. They would have liked more points in the locker, and if Saunders could coax one over from a long way, then what damage would Dickson wreak with another 15 metres in his right boot?

There was no further scoring but Weston took only two minutes into the second half to chip away at the deficit. Dickson slotted a simple goal from 30 metres, and then a not so simple goal from 56 metres four minutes later.

13-9 became 13-14 to Weston four minutes later when centre Young crossed in the corner on the overlap following more forward pressure as the home side found it equally hard to make progress up the pitch.Things got worse for Taunton five minutes later when Dickson kicked his fourth penalty and a 17-13 lead.

Taunton, to their credit, retrenched and fought their way upfield to an attacking position, and from a short range scrum, No.8 Burnett got the touchdown. The conversion into the wind was way beyond the capability of Saunders.
Weston regained the lead five minutes later. They were pressurising the Taunton line, a penalty had already been awarded but Dickson popped over a drop goal to save himself the trouble. 20-18 to Weston. The silence from the Taunton crowd was deafening. Most unfortunate as Burnetts’ foul mouthed tirade was horribly audible. Players have been booked for less. Women and children close your ears!!

The next fifteen minutes were highly competitive. Weston were unable to regain the momentum and Taunton defended well and attacked enterprisingly, finally winning a penalty close enough for Saunders to kick a goal to regain the lead with time running out.

The end of the match was anti-climactic. Taunton had again made their way up the pitch.

A penalty from all of 30 metres from Saunders fell woefully short but was knocked on under the posts for a second Weston player to pick it up from an offside position. Saunders managed the tricky kick from ten yards out to complete the scoring.

A fiercely contested local derby… to be continued in two weeks time at the Somerset Cup Final on Sunday March 28th. Kick off 2.30 p.m.

Weston…Warman, Middlemiss, Young, Bennett, Sprague, Dickson, Conway, Price,
Burge, Williams, Smith, Fry, (Hobbs 36), Wright, Sparks.

Match report by Tony Russell and match photos courtesy of Harry Trump.