Seasiders fight back to gain five league points

This was Westons’ worst performance since before Christmas and their climb away from relegation, but they still managed to pilfer a narrow win at a ground where they have never lost .

Maidenhead looked nothing like a relegated team as they scored four tries in the first 42 minutes. Their back division looked far sharper and aided by some woeful midfield defence and failures to find touch, they opened the scoring after only six minutes when full back Cannon, comfortably their best player, touched down in the corner. Critically, the conversion was missed.

Weston responded with a Dickson penalty after 17 minutes but their defence went missing again as No.8 Gallina was ushered untouched over the line for Maidenheads’ second try which was converted for a 12-3 lead.

The visitors reduced the arrears to 12-10 five minutes later when Dickson took a return pass to score under the posts for a converted try but the home side responded immediately when further “touch rugby” tackling allowed diminutive flanker Long to touch down for another seven points.

A penalty from Cannon on the stroke of half time sent the hosts in with a healthy 22-10 lead and things got worse for Weston when they scored their fourth try through winger Harris immediately after the resumption for a welcome bonus point.

At 29-10, the visitors looked dead and buried but they responded with 21 unanswered points.

Their forwards had been far stronger at the set piece and referee Richard Bennett, who had a tidy game, finally lost patience and sent hooker Clarke to the sin bin for standing up in the scrum. It could have been any one of the front three for the whole of the first half but justice was eventually done and Weston wasted no time in making their advantage tell.

Richards drove over from the resultant penalty scrum and Sparks repeated the dose five minutes later from a five yard scrum.

Dickson converted both to bring his side within 5 points and with seven minutes remaining,rotund prop forward David Price found himself in open space fifteen metres from the try line. The jeers and laughter from the home crowd turned to incredulity as he sold an outrageous dummy and sidestepped the Maidenhead centre for a simple touchdown…much to the delight of the few Weston supporters.

There was still work to be done with a difficult conversion but Dickson didn’t disappoint from a wide angle to steal a two point win.

Maidenhead were understandably distraught and disappointed. Weston had got out of jail courtesy of their pack, and the slide rule kicking of Dickson. The whole result had hinged on Cannons’ missed conversion of the first try.

In an error ridden performance there were few positives but winger Middlemiss deserves credit for an excellent game and was rightly adjudged Weston man of the match.Richards was solid, as ever, as was Sparks, and the whole front row had the better of their opposition.

One hopes Maidenhead make a speedy return. It’s always a good trip and the hospitality is splendid.

Weston team…Trevena, Middlemiss, Mackay, Bennett, Sprague, Dickson, Conway,Doneghan, Burge, Price, Richards, Board (Russell), Smith, Saunders,Sparks. Reps. not used…Hurd, Doughty.