Weston rediscover winning habit!

Weston got back on the winning trail following two recent shock defeats (at least according to the rolling maul expert pundits), but although the win is welcome, the attractive and fluent rugby demonstrated last year has still to be repeated this term. There is work to be done! The coaches will not like the ease with which the home side scored two of their tries through a somnolent midfield defence….they will like the fact that their side dominated the second half comfortably…they won’t like the lack of a fourth try!
Chippenham, going through a rebuilding process, will be pleased with their recovery following the previous weeks’ drubbing at Redingensians, and that they also scored three tries.
Weston were quicker out of the blocks, winning the territorial battle and scoring a brace of penalties from the reliable Mackay but the home side took the lead on 23 minutes when Squire was on the end of a simple training ground move, hopelessly misread by the defence, to touch down under the posts for a converted try. The lead was increased to 12-6 after half an hour when second row forward Bye forced his way over from a yard following concerted pressure …this time unconverted.
The lead was regained five minutes later when Bufton, who had replaced the injured Russell five minutes earlier, drove over for his second try in consecutive matches. Mackay converted and kicked his third penalty on the stroke of half time for Weston to lead 16-12.
Weston increased this four minutes into the second half when Withers got on the end of forward interpassing to cross in the corner, splendidly converted for a 23-12 scoreline.
Buftons’ eventful afternoon continued when he and Newman, who had only been on the field for five minutes, were singled out for a ten minute respite following a sixteen man scuffle between the two packs. This remains a mystery.
The referee was thirty metres away diligently following the progress of Weston winger Jones who had a totally clear field ahead of him.
Further forward pressure after 69 minutes created quick ball for the backs to free up debutant winger Tom Bellek for a sprint to the corner. The try was unconverted but with ten minutes remaining, the home side needed three scores.
Weston attacked from the restart and forced a five metre scrum. Chippenhams’ pack raised the white flag and to a man stood up. A
bonus for the visitors had been the performance of their front row which played unchanged for the whole game, unlike that of Chippenham, which had a horrible afternoon, never being allowed to settle and making constant changes….but did Weston opt for another scrum against a beaten pack in search of the bonus point try? Certainly not! The ball was taken back thirty metres only for Mackays early form to desert him, and the chosen penalty was missed. The coaches may not like this particular decision.
The home side had the last word when replacement centre Bestwick ran…. nay, was almost ushered through a threadbare defence for a consolation try and a final 28-17 scoreline.

Next Saturday brings a stern test against current leaders Lydney at 3.00 p.m, but the League is obviously going to be very tight. Unusually, there is no side unbeaten at this early stage of the season, and any one side appears to be capable of beating another.

Weston team…Bennett, Bellek, Smee, Middlemiss, Jones, Mackay, Waldon, Price, Withers, Swann © Glen, Russell (Bufton), Webber, Morrissey(Fisher S.) Sparks.