Bonus point victory for Weston Colts against Yatton Colts

Somerset Colts/U18s league
Weston Colts 27 Yatton Colts 10

Weston Colts quite frankly have struggled this season, but since Christmas the side has been reinvigorated and a narrow defeat to a really strong Keynsham side and then victory over Nailsea had seen the year start well.
From the kick-off, Yatton looked like a side who were going to be difficult to stop. They had strong ball carriers who made good ground, but Weston were (as always) dogged in defence. However, it was the visitors who had the better of the early exchanges and eventually pressure told with a surging run out wide and they took a 5-0 lead.
From the kick-off, Yatton again pressed, but Weston held out and turned the tide, applying their own pressure, and were frustrated not to get over when the ball was dropped when a try seemed inevitable. However, Weston were not to be denied, and further pressure eventually told, when a quick tap was taken by Jack Groom, who was held up just short, but captain fantastic, Alex Sandford, was on his shoulder to pick up and crash over, to tie the scores at half time.
The beginning of the second half started as the first, with Yatton in the ascendancy and Weston determined in defence. This though was the basis for the home side to flourish as the visitors became frustrated and eventually, it was Weston who found field position and were unlucky not to score as passes didn’t quite go to hand.
However, from the resulting scrum, a charge down by Fin Simpson, resulted in a scrum to Weston, and from the resulting phases recent recruit Ed Taylor crashed over to take the lead. With the conversion added, the Seasiders were in the ascendancy 12-5.
This gave Weston fresh heart, and they were able, again, to establish great field position. From a defensive scrum Weston were up on the backs in a flash, with debutant Ned Burlingham making a massive hit on the opposition 10 behind their own line, and Ollie Dadds was on hand to drop on the loose ball to take the lead out to 17-5. With Dadds also adding the conversion, the score moved to 19-5 and the visitors were forced to chase the game.
But they were more than able to make up the deficit, and they pressed the home sides line hard. Weston held out, but then a high tackle from captain Alex Sandford resulted in a yellow card and Yatton felt that there might just be a shift in the balance of the game. So it was that they established a strong position and eventually were able to get over out wide, to reduce the deficit to 19-10 and the game was most certainly on.
Weston continued with determined defence and were able to establish some field position, when il-discipline from the visitor gave Weston a penalty, and the opportunity to slow the game, eat up some of the yellow card time, and extend the lead. Dadds again slotted from 25 metres, to extend the lead to 22-10 and add extra pressure on the visitors.
That pressure told, as the young Yatton side sought to attack from deep, but Weston’s defence again held firm, and keep them pinned in their own half. Ultimately, another penalty, 5 metres out, was tapped quick and this time it was Oscar Taylor who dived over in the corner, to extend the lead, and ultimately win the game 27-10. This was also the bonus point try, just to add even more gloss to the Weston Colts evening.
Ultimately, a great game of rugby, played in a competitive, and positive manner, in a wonderful Friday night atmosphere. A great win for the home side and a brilliant curtain raiser for the Athletic’s later game (and victory) also against a visiting Yatton side.