Under 15’s triumph over Taunton

Match Report by Kenny Braidwood

Weston-super-Mare under 15's produced a good all round team performance in their second game of the season against a physically strong Taunton team.

The first eight minutes of the game was played in the Weston half with Taunton making the most of some handling errors from Weston. Taunton were the first to score with a penalty from inside the Weston 22 meter line. This seemed to galvanise Weston and they cut out the mistakes and went on to score four unanswered tries before half time.

Weston first try followed some good work by Dom Marshall cutting through midfield and passing out to Kyron Pearce on the left who crossed the whitewash to score. Lewis Paterson knocked over the conversion. Kyron Pearce scored the second of his four tries after a period of pressure on the Taunton line from the forwards which saw the ball being held up a number of times. But eventually the pressure from Weston was too much for Taunton and Kyron Pearce scored. Lewis Paterson scored the conversion.

Through the first half the Weston forwards were dominating rucks and mauls which meant that the Taunton were finding it hard to retain any significant possession. The scrummaging from Weston was also very effective. A number of Taunton put ins were hooked back by Billy Howells as the pack drove forwards to give Weston the ball. From a ruck the ball was picked up by Kyron Pearce who went on a long solo run down the right wing to score his hat trick try. Once more Lewis Paterson scored the conversion.

Taunton went down to 14 players when one of their players was sin binned for indiscipline towards the referee. Weston took advantage and Lewis Paterson was the next to score with a well taken try following a well rehearsed backs move which saw Paterson cut through the Taunton defence. A possible fifth try a few minutes later for Weston was not given by the referee as Lewis Paterson was adjudged to have dropped the ball over the try line.

Half time Weston - Super - Mare RFC 28 - 3 Taunton RFC

Taunton came out in the second half and put pressure on the Weston line. Good defensive work from man of the match Brooklyn Chamberlain and fellow prop Andrew Turner cleared the ball up field. From a penalty on the Taunton 5 meter line Andrew Turner broke through the Taunton tackles to score. The conversion was missed. Kyron Pearce scored his fourth try shortly afterwards after another good run from the backs. This time Lewis Paterson secured the extra 2 points.

Taunton rallied mid way through the second half and scored a well worked try after securing the ball from a scrum on the Weston 5 meter line. The conversion was missed. A second Taunton try followed quickly. With Weston not able to keep out a drive from the Taunton forwards. The conversion was missed.

Weston secured the ball from the restart and worked their way upfield and with a number of pick up and drives by the forwards. Andrew Turner popped up on the left wing to take the ball over the line. The conversion from a very tight angle was missed.

Weston’s final try of the day owed everything to the excellent work of Mateuloh Abed who facing his own try line picked up an awkward low bobbling ball and immediately turned and accelerated down the left wing to make 35 metres before being bundled into touch. Weston stole possession from the line out and Harry Strutt broke through the Taunton defence with a clever run to score. The conversion was missed.

The final try of the day went to Taunton who scored with the final play of the game. The conversion was well taken.

This was a good all round team performance by Weston. The forwards competed excellently for the ball against some good ball carriers for Taunton. They supported each other well to make sure that Weston were able to keep good forward momentum during the game. This hard graft was then built upon by the backs who passed well to keep the ball moving across the pitch and out of the reach of Taunton.