“Another one point defeat for Weston.”

This was an improved performance but a combination of wrong options, missed touches, occasional careless errors and some mystifying refereeing decisions which on another day could easily have gone the other way meant that once again, the much needed win that was warranted, and deserved on the day was not forthcoming.

The visitors took the lead after one minute with a straightforward penalty from Martin Chisholm but twelve minutes later Bournemouth opened their account with a try under the posts and a 7-3 lead.

Weston then lost hooker Hocking to the sin bin but they responded with a touchdown in the far corner from Harry Jones, splendidly converted by Chisholm for a 10-7 lead after 32 minutes. The home side responded ten minutes later with a corner score from an unidentified player, which went unconverted, and on the stroke of half time, Chisholm kicked a second penalty for a narrow 13-12 lead.
They were the quicker team out of the blocks in the second half and concerted pressure in the home 22 resulted in a corner try for Matt Watkins, this time unconverted, and an 18-12 lead after 50 minutes. This became 21-12 with Chisholm's’ third penalty four minutes later.
The visitors had probably shaded things to this juncture. Their defence had coped pretty easily with Bournemouth's’ efforts to smash their way upfield. Russell and Boulger had won the lineout battle and the scrum had the edge over their opposition, but they were frustrated during a protracted attack on the home line when from a series of scrums and lines out, with thanks to numerous side entries and dragged down mauls, Bournemouth held out. Even more frustrating was the fact that both the referees’ whistle, and his yellow card stayed firmly in his pocket!

The Rugby gods continued to shine on the home team. They mounted an attack to within ten meters of the Weston line. A support runner was penalised for crossing and Weston were awarded….. a scrum!!!?? (Crossing is a penalty offence). From this ensuing scrum Weston were mysteriously penalised before the ball was even offered. A gratuitous three points to the home side from the simple penalty.

Bournemouth scored the decisive try seven minutes from the end from a scrambled forward drive. The kicker goaled the conversion to bring up a one point lead. To rub the salt into the wound, the referee blew up early. Somedays, it’s better to stay in bed!