Weston U15's begin season with a win at Clevedon 27 - 26

The Under 15's began their season with an away trip to Clevedon on a hot day and with a number of players carrying injuries or injured away from training and playing rugby. 17 players made the trip and were given their new kit sponsored by Skirmish Paintball to show off to family and friends and the opposition. Having recruited a few new players and keeping the group from last season, it has seen the team be able to concentrate on the basics and build on what had been built last season.

Clevedon who had played the previous week and beat Wells, had 28 players in their match day squad as their prepared for their cup match next week and Weston knew it would be a tough competitive match as it always is.
The game set off at a frantic pace and some great rucking and clean ball for the backs meant that Weston could make a flying with the first try of the new season coming from centre George Pengelly Powell, this was converted by himself. Weston then from the kick off began to carry well through Adley Phillips, Tom Davison and Leon Sabastonelli which was rewarded with a try by Andy Bancroft, his first ever score since beginning his rugby playing 2 years ago. The score was then 12-0 and was soon 17-0 after George Pengelly Powell went over again after good handling along the line by the backs. This spured Clevedon into life and they were rewarded from some powerful running and good handling by the backs with a try and conversion. Weston went in 17-7 at half time with a clear message to have support runners and have a good defensive line.

The second half started like the first with a high tempo and great defence by both teams featuring some great tackling and handling. Clevedon scored first by creating an overlap near the line which was again converted but Weston hit back after pressure in the middle field which led to a try by captain Harry Charalambous with the conversion missed. It went back and forth with the action with again Clevedon scoring again to make it 22-21. This put Weston under pressure but some good mauling and ball carrying by Peter Nuttycombe and Tom Davison led to a break for new signing Sam Board and the ball being passed out of the tackle and recycled well for Ewen Kennedy to go over in the corner to increase the lead to 27-21 with 5 minutes to play. Clevedon again came back and scored another try and conversion to make it 27-26 and a morale boosting victory their first time winning the first game of the season for at least 5 years and it will be a big boost for next week when they face Coombe Down in the Bristol Combination Cup First Round.

A special thank you to Mark Walker, a club player and referre who stepped in to referee with Clevedon not having an official and he did a fantastic job in giving both teams structure and pointing out the reasons as to where they were going wrong.

'Anything is Possible'