United lose the derby game under lights

“Yvonne it's your birthday what would you like to do?”

“I’d love to go to the Rec and watch the United play Hornets 2nds and afterwards you can take me to the Ship for a pint of strong Italian larger and a cheese and onion pasty that’s been under a light bulb for 9 hrs”

“No problem, once a year you're allowed to get all high maintenance”

Local derbies on Friday nights under floodlights are smashing and a large crowd from the Nest joined the Weston faithful with an excited atmosphere developing. Both teams looked good on paper but the Hornets were certainly the favourites but the United were confident following their recent success at Yatton.

From the KO the United were putting pressure on the Hornets forward and early scrum contact resulted in a penalty for the United. This was starting very promising and the dominance in the scrum was clear.

The backs reacted to the forwards' effort and the early ball proved to move well with nice hands displayed by the backs. The early attack saw the ball spilled by winger Joshua Cook but Hornets were on the back foot.

Continued pressure and super steal from centre Ollie Caton, a knock-on from Hornets and back to United scrum. Backs and forwards continuing to link well and United are in under the posts Caton the try scorer and Archie Tilsley collects the extras, eight minutes played. United 7-0 Hornets

The Hornets find some form from the restart and the United sit back, 12 minutes Tasker scores for the Nest, collects extras and the hoarding slappers are in go wild, it's their thing I know. United 7-7 Hornets

We’ve barely re-started and there’s an unlucky miss tackle from Adam Fisher, more hoarding slapping and Querl is over the whitewash, Tasker collects the extras and Hornets pull ahead, 15 minutes. United 7-14 Hornets.

United settle now and again seem to take the lead taking the game to the Hornets. The United centres are carrying and defending well with another storming carry from Caton resulting in a United penalty on the half way. A poor nudge from Tilsley but the United maintained possession
with a line-out.

More infringements from the Hornets, Tilsley gents a high slap to his swede and it’s a United penalty again. Can we find touch this time, yes and an attaching line-out inside the defending 22. United line-out inside the defending 22

“How is Birdy playing?” Asks Merv Down for deepest darkest Devon, Merv’s loving the WhatsApp commentary as it clogs up all the PPA phones whether they want it or not.

“He’s not playing Merv, keep your beak out and let me get on with this report, anyway I thought you were moving back to Weston?,

"That’ll be nice," said nobody.

Against the run of play, Hornets get the penalty, but the United dominance in the scrum is winning far more but not where it counts, line out inside Hornets half but the game is generally being played 10 m either side of the half way, 5 minutes to half time.

The United centres taking it up looking to contact and the gap but the latter remains elusive. Hornets get the upper hand and the United under pressure concede a third try, McGee for the Hornets, 37 minutes. United 7-19 Hornets.

The United are immediately under pressure again in their 22. a missed tackle and a half tackle this is getting worse than a thundering cover tackle from Vinnie Jones and the pressure is released. Well done Vinnie on your recent Somerset U20s cap along with George Nuttycombe, great to see you representing the club.

Half Time United 7 - 19 Hornets

A crunching collision from the KO sees Cooke winded, and slow to get up but recovers and survives. The first altercation spills to the crowds delight with Sam Light getting a couple of quick hand bags to the head of the rotund Hedges who responds in kind with his clutch bag before mincing back to his pack to be congratulated, the referee was simply looking bemused and couldn’t decide who had the best bag.

United win a penalty on the Hornets 22 middle of the field, scrum is opted for and another penalty is conceded. United creep closer, another and another penalty as the boys catch and drive - surely a yellow card has got to be shown.

United have another scrum on the 5m line, they really need something now with all this pressure but no a wild pass from Lord of the Rings extra PJ Grimes and were back at the 22 but the referee has had enough and yellow card for Hornet Rhys Barton on 52 minutes.

More unforced errors from the United with the man advantage but we’re still pushing the Hornets hard, scrum 10 m out PJ screw your hands back on the right wrists, no need, yesssssss scrummed over from 10 m, Walker collects the points and Tisley the extras, 58 mins. United 14-19 Hornets

It's all Hornets from the re-start and a knock-on 10 m out is the final relief for the United. Scrum a Fish who is having a fine game breaks from beneath the posts, offloads to Blyth in a perfect supporting run and we’re back in the Hornets' half.

Donny off, good shift after a week of landscaping, where’s the quote for my patio??? The scrum stays strong and we’re back in their 22, I don’t think it matters that it’s their scrum we are dominant here.

I've spoken two soon and full-back McGee glides through numerous missed tackles for a fine individual score, Tasker’s boot lets him down, 71 minutes United 14-24 Hornets

It's not a great re-starlet for the United who are looking flustered before another soft try for Millmanand Tasker not missing this time 75 minutes.
United 14-31 Hornets

As we move into the die minutes Hornets received another Yellow card and Michael Brooks will play no further part. But hang on, crumbs from a rich man’s table and the United have a final line-out on the Hornets 5 m line.

There’s more the stealth-like Simon Po Hudson has sneaked on and with. A secured catch and drive, the cheeky chap is over for the final score 79 minutes no extras. It’s all over

Final Score, United 19-31 Hornets

Well done fellas, despite the score a really enjoyable evening and all the replacements played their part as well. A big thank you to the Hornets 2nds and your supporters, well played.

If anybody is wondering, Yvonne got her pint and pasty at the Ship, who says I don't know how to treat a women properly?

Report by Mark Mongo Matthews