“ Funtime for Weston pack!”

The portents were not good. Weston, seeking to build following their unsatisfactory start to the season, learnt that three of their most influential players would not be making the trip following injury and illness to George Sparks, Ashley Russell and Sylvan Edwards. Nil desperandum…there is a growing strength in depth. Messrs Glen, Hamilton-Brown and Robbie Mackay and newcomer Jon Reyes stepped up to the plate and the Seasiders came away with a welcome away win to start their climb away from the nether regions of the division.

The pattern of the match became obvious from the start. Pressure from the Weston forwards created early penalty opportunities which were goaled by Skelton after 15 and 18 minutes for a 6-0 lead, but the home side took the lead with a brace of tries scored by winger Yeats, one converted, for a 12-6 lead.

This was reduced to 12-9 just before half time courtesy of Skeltons third penalty.

Oxford invariably has a lively set of backs which they try to use at every opportunity, but rarely has a competitive set of forwards, and nothing has changed. The visiting pack had served early notice of its’superiority during the first forty minutes, much to the concern of the home side whose captain Luke Brown desperately tried to instill some confidence and spirit in his battered troops …..”Hang on in there lads. Weston will blow up in the second half!”

Weston didn’t blow up. In fact they got stronger as the second half became a master class from the visiting forwards, and particularly by the front row, orchestrated by Crompton. One lost count of the comings and goings of the Oxford props as they struggled to get out of reverse gear, to no avail. Westons’ best attacking moves came on the Oxford feed as their scrum was pushed back yards, invariably losing the ball or conceding penalties.

To their credit they defended resolutely frustrating multiple attacks, resisting the temptation to do as some coaches will have done in the circumstances and played the “injured front row/passive scrum card”…well done Oxford, but with ten minutes to go , the dam broke. Fly half Harry Jones astutely chipped over the rush defence and strolled through the empty space to touch down under the posts. Skelton converted. 16-12 to the away side.

Five minutes later the visiting pack found itself in the same position and this time, scrum half Hayden Tuttiett ran unchallenged past the ailing back row for another seven pointer and a 23-12 lead.

Oxford had one last attack in them…they hadn’t troubled Westons’ line much in the second half and Westons’ improving midfield defence held firm for a welcome and deserved win.