“What a difference a week makes!”

In came Streeter and Crompton on the front row, Russell into the second row, and Crossman into the back row, and the new scrum made things difficult for the All Whites, who revel in open rugby, but found it difficult to get their hands on the ball. Weston scored five tries, including two penalty tries when the home scrum was bullied and battered on its’ own line. Newton scored three of their own.

The visitors were on the board after three minutes when Goode slotted a penalty, and followed up with the conversion of the first penalty try after 17 minutes following a yellow card to home flanker Luke Mongo, and collapsed scrums. 10-0 and the home side had yet to visit Weston territory, but after 32 minutes, they scored from a lineout and driving maul from 5 metres through No. 8 M.Browne. This was converted, and they took a surprise lead after 35 minutes when centre Anderton benefitted from confusion in the back line to run some 50 metres and put co-centre Dennis in for a simple score, also converted. 14-10 to the home side, and they had hardly touched the ball. Sanity was restored on the stroke of half time as Morrissey scored in the corner on the overlap for a one point lead.

Newton opened the second half with a regulation backs try by K.Browne for a 19-15 lead. Goode responded with a penalty and then Morrissey scored his second, lurking on the wing, after 51 minutes for a 23-19 lead which was trimmed to a single point when Gibbins kicked a goal for the All Whites. Hereafter Weston took charge as their scrum turned the screw. Streeter, in a fine debut, was a one man “wrecking ball, “ scattering opponents at will. Hocking at hooker, is equally abrasive and competitive, and scored his first try in Weston colours following a driving maul from a lineout to increase the lead to 28-22. Senior citizen Crompton departed, having sagely guided his young charges through the game, and the scrum was no less effective with the introduction of Ford. The home side lost a man when the yellow card proffered to No. 8 Browne was swiftly changed to red as the player engaged in some injudicious backchat, and incredulity from the Weston players. Ash Russell couldn’t believe it! “Why did he open his mouth then? We haven’t heard from him all game!” Weston wrapped up the scoring after 61 minutes with their second penalty try, identical to the first. 35-22, and on paper a seemingly convincing win. In reality, for an hour it was closely contested and there is still much for the coaches to work on.

Besides the scrum contribution, there was a good hard working debut from Tom Crossman on the back row, young Hayden Tuttiett is growing in stature quickly at scrum-half, and there was a marked improvement in the midfield, notwithstanding the one aberration, where Middlemiss and Coutts made many inroads.