When Andrew Hussell stepped onto the pitch at the Recreation Ground last Saturday for Weston RFC’s opening day clash with Brixham he became the third generation of his family to represent the Seasiders.

Hussell followed his grandfather Terry and father Carl, whose side of the family still lives in the town, to have played for the club.

“It’s a nice thing. I have heard great things from then both taking about the club, they have very fond memories,” he said.

“So, it’s good to be part of it as well.”

Hussell, who is from Yeovil, is currently in the Royal Navy and was one of four players to make his debut against the Fishermen alongside Joe Thomas, Alex Payne and Euan Tremlett.

In fact, it was the flanker who got Weston’s first try of the season with a superb effort in in the first half.

But that was as it good as it got for Weston never really going and were 18-8 down at half-time.

Things went bad to worse in the second half. Despite further tries from James Mackay, Josh Mynett and Ash Russell secured a bonus point Weston would fall to an opening day 44-29 defeat.

“The warmup wasn’t there, we weren’t really fired up,” Hussell continued.

“At the start our heads weren’t in the game, it just took us a long time to get going.

“We showed potential at the end, some individual, some group mistakes as well at the time want ideal.

“But it is a big thing to build off and see where go from here really.

“We have not come away empty handed, it’s decent that we showed the heart and the determination to claw that back at the end. It’s probably a good outlook for the season.”

Fellow debutant Thomas signed from “boyhood club” Chippenham after relocating to Bristol.

Thomas said that he enjoyed “wearing the blue and white” and he is “really looking forward to the season” with Weston.

And the centre said he has been welcomed to the club with open arms.

“I’ve settled in, I feel sort of the furniture already,” Thomas said.

“The first session of pre-season all the boys were around introducing themselves, a really welcoming social club.

“All the board and all the directions made the effort to come over to introduce themselves. I have got Alex, who is kindly sponsoring me with Park House this season.

“Again, straight in jumping on board with that and a very welcoming club.”

Captain Tom Sugg hailed the performances of all the debutants, and they can be “proud” of their display.

“I thought the lads did really well,” he said.

“They bought in to what we want to buy in to. It seems like they are enjoying themselves.

“All four of them had good games. Again, being part of the disappointing result is probably something that they didn’t want in their first game, but I don’t think that should be taken away from the lad's first run out for the club.

 

“They should be proud of what they did and seeing them perform and push it some more will be good."