Fantastic Friday

On Friday 3rd December 2021 Weston u15s beat Hornets at the Nest. This was a momentous evening as the Weston side had never beaten their local rivals at this age group. Therefore, the rematch, at Weston on Friday night took on even more importance than might have normally been the case and it was clear that the visitors were out to avenge their earlier defeat.

The Under 15s played ahead of the second teams of the two sides, which was billed as the main event. However, the Rec was packed early on, with pretty much every Year 10 in the town in attendance to see the young sides go head to head once more.

So it was that at kick off there were nearly 500 in the ground to provide a sparkling atmosphere. This was to be a magnificent backdrop to the game, but also piled the pressure onto both sides. This pressure was evident in the first few minutes as a mistake from the Weston backs left the ball exposed and Hornets were able to kick through and score an easy early try.

A typical start from the home side, never ones to get out to an early lead but they were, at least, gifted a similar opportunity only a few minutes later. This time it was the Hornets centres that dropped the ball and it was Max Gregory who scooped it up and scurried over from 20m to level the scores at 5-5 within the first 5 minutes.

It certainly looked like it was going to be a breathless and high scoring game – and so it proved to be.

Hornets pushed forward from the kick off but the home side stood strong with Ellis Rogers and Callum John making strong tackles to eventually turn over the ball. A kick into space and a strong chase from JJ Weall and Oliver Marshall put the visitors under pressure. A poor clearing kick put the defenders off side and from the resulting penalty a quick tap saw Fin Simpson held up short, but Will Bamsey touch down, for the home side to lead 10-5

Hornets came straight back and put the hosts under pressure and from a line out a smart move and a hard running line from the centres put the visitors under the posts and with the conversion made, Hornets were in front 12-10.

In the ping pong style of the game, it was now Weston on the offence, a great kick to the corner provided the basis for the reliable Weston lineout led by Joe Jenkinson to deliver good ball, and this time it was Will Bamsey who bundled over from 5 metres to retake the lead. With Ollie Dadds adding the extra points, Weston were again in the lead 17-12.

From the kick off, Alex Sandford led the charge with a blistering run and the offload put the elusive Jayden Hood away on one of his trademark runs with magnificent poise and balance. He was brought down and from the subsequent breakdown the visitors were penalised and once again there was a chance to go to the corner. However, in the helter skelter style of the game, touch was missed and Hornets were able to clear their lines. A dropped ball and suddenly it was the hosts who were under pressure and it was Hornets who ended the half with a try, to level things up at 17-17.

The second half started much as the first had ended, with Weston in the ascendency and pressing for a score. But again it was the visitors who broke and eventually bundled over in the corner to take the lead 22-17.

Almost from the kick off though, good quick hands from the Weston backline put Will Bamsey into the sort of space he’d been starved of to that point and he was able to stretch his powerful legs into an unstoppable run to go under the posts. With Kieran Horn adding the conversion, it was Weston who were back in front 24-22.

But Hornets came straight back, with a try of their own to retake the lead 27-24 and with 10 minutes remaining, it was clear this one was going all the way to the wire!

Weston though just started to exert some dominance and put pressure on the Hornets line. A solid scrum platform provided the basis for some slick hands and Eesa Hussain was able to dance over, to retake the lead, 29-27. With the pressure on and 500 pairs of eyes watching, Ollie Dadds calmly slotted the conversion, to take the lead out to 31-27 with a few minutes to go.

Hornets pushed hard, but it was Weston who ultimately found the decisive moment. From a breakdown on the visitors 10 metre, Jayden Hood saw a gap on the narrow side, took the opportunity and popped to Oliver Marshall, who in turn fed Ollie Dadds, who took the ball (in a not very Ollie Dadds style) bowling over one tackler before being stopped at the last gasp by the excellent Hornets full back. But Ollie Dadds had the presence of mind to step back inside and popped the ball to the ever present Max Gregory, who dotted down. With 2 minutes to go this sealed the win.

So it was that Weston ran out the victors 36 – 27 and it was they who celebrated and can rightly claim the local playground bragging rights.

There will be more games, and hopefully more evenings, like this one for both sides as they head towards the Colts and then senior rugby, but for now its just great that two local sides can play such a high quality game in such a great (and positive) atmosphere.

We look forward to the future encounters but for now we just savour a really fantastic Friday.