Weston Under 15's Back to Winning Ways in Bedminster

Match report by Kenny Braidwood

Weston-super-Mare under 15's made the trip up to Bedminster to play a friendly against Broad Plain RFC and came away with a well deserved win.

Broad Plain made by far the better start to the game despite Weston getting their hands on ball early and retaining possession they were unable to threaten the opposition line. Broad Plain scored a well worked try via the right wing and got the extras. The second try for Broad Plain was the result of good forward pressure which forced them over the line. Again the conversion was scored.

Two tries down and Weston began to put some phases together when in possession and putting pressure on the Broad Plain players when they had the ball. Pressing the Broad Plain defensive line by Rueben Picardo and Brooklyn Chamberlain led to Weston's first try as the opposition gave away the ball at the breakdown. Lewis Paterson got hold of the ball and speed cross field to score in the right corner despite the close attention of a number of Broad Plain players. Without a kicking tee Paterson's attempt at the conversion drifted wide.

Lewis Paterson got his second try on the right of the posts after Weston retained the ball in midfield. Conversion was missed. The last six minutes of the first half saw Weston having to defend their try line after an intercepted pass by Broad Plain which would have led to a third try but for a good defensive effort inside the 5 metre line by the whole team. Weston managed to get to half time only four points adrift.

Half time – Broad Plain 14 – 10 Weston-super-Mare

In the second half Weston played with more fluency and width which paid dividends with four tries being scored in the half. Soon after the kick off the backs got the ball through their hands to Dom Marshall who showed good speed on the left wing to cross the line and get Weston off to the start they needed. Conversion was missed. Mateuloh Abed was the next to score. Having picked up the ball in the Broad Plain 22 he ran through a number of poorly executed tackles to score. Conversion missed.

Weston's scrum had to work hard all morning against a bigger pack but quick ball from Taylor Kingston set Harry Strutt off up the wing to score in the corner. Conversion missed.

Broad Plain continued to pile forward with most of their best moves coming via their strong running number 9. Broad Plain got one try back with five minutes of the game remaining. They missed the conversion.

Weston left the best till the last two minutes with a breathtaking try involving both forwards and backs. Weston's captain Euan Braidwood was set off on a 30 metre run up the centre of the pitch from a Toby Maleham pass. He was heading for the Broad Plain line but was tackled just inside the 22. Braidwood had the presence of mind to off load just at the right moment to Dom Marshall who was on his left shoulder. Running at pace Marshall saw the lovely line being run by hooker Billy Howells who took the well timed pass that split the remaining Broad Plain defence and get over the try line. Conversion missed.

With little time on the clock Weston remained resolute and kept the ball well away from danger until the referee ended the game when the ball next went dead.

This was a good team performance against a strong, combative Broad Plain team. All of Weston's players can be pleased with their efforts in this game where it would have been easy to have been unsettled by the opposition. The man of the match award was shared by Dom Marshall and Toby Maleham who both showed great commitment and skill in both attack and defence all morning.