WESTON 21 pts CONEY HILL 15 pts - WESTON were 12 points adrift after only 15 minutes at a soggy Recreation Ground but they gradually pulled things together to record their eighth league victory from 10 matches since the turn of the year.

WESTON 21 pts

CONEY HILL 15 pts

WESTON were 12 points adrift after only 15 minutes at a soggy Recreation Ground but they gradually pulled things together to record their eighth league victory from 10 matches since the turn of the year.

Coney Hill were ahead in the fourth minute with full-back Danny Davies' try converted by Rory Baker.

At the same time, Andrew Glen retired with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Stuart Board who was to play a good part in Weston's recovery.

The visitors were soon on the scoreboard again when Baker's crossfield kick found wing Jamie Cole who sprinted to the left corner.

Glenn Dickson replied three minutes later with a 40-metre penalty which went over via the crossbar and on the half hour George Sparks and his pack started to exert pressure. James Mackay's break saw Harry Warman go close as Coney Hill defended desperately.

However, the Seasiders were not to be denied and a series of forward thrusts, led by Andrew Richards, resulted in a try for Kirk Middlemiss who was able to dive over from one yard.

Having lost four line-outs during the first half Weston were trailing by 8-12 at the interval. But the started the second period with a 40-metre driving maul, and when the visitors were penalised, Sparks opted for a scrum from which the No 8 touched down wide out to give his team a single point advantage.

Aided by Board's extra option at the line-out, Weston's pack kept the ball to themselves and in the 71st minute Richards was the try scorer following yet another drive.

Coney Hill repelled two pushover attempts and Weston's poor kicking out of hand kept the Gloucester outfit interested but the match was won with two minutes of normal time remaining when Dickson kicked his second penalty.

Baker's penalty with the final kick of the match gave the visitors a losing bonus point, but Weston had prevailed.

Weston: H Warman, K Middlemiss (C Young 72), S Bennett, J Mackay, P Sprague, G Dickson, J Conway, D Price (L Grimes 72), D Burge, S Williams, A Richards, A Glen (S Board 4), K Hobbs, G Wright, G Sparks (c).

This was another hard working performance by the Seasiders. After a poor first half hour, the pack took a firm grip on the proceedings and there were excellent performances by Board, Sparks and the ever-consistent Richards.

Following the tribulations of the first half of the season, Weston's loyal supporters are now assured of National League rugby at the Recreation Ground next season.

In the meantime, apart from the matches at Exmouth and Maidenhead, Bridgwater is the venue on Sunday for the Somerset Cup final against Taunton (2.30pm).

This was Weston's final home match of the season and the public address announcer took the opportunity to thank the club's sponsors, programme and perimeter advertisers for their financial input, especially during these testing economic times.

Thanks were also given to the club's hard working sponsorship officer Adele Tincknell together with her efforts in the kitchen with Julie Russell and the rest of the catering team.

Ollie Ridge's work at the scoreboard was also recognised and the past players' were thanked for running the gate.

Finally, the Seasiders' loyal followers were thanked for their support which the players will have appreciated.