By Chris Heath.

Weston RFC came agonisingly close to securing their second Regional 1 South West league victory of the season against St Austell but instead had to settle for a losing bonus point in their 33-31 defeat last Saturday.
 
In the first game between the two sides, the match couldn't have started any better for Weston when Jay Davis stole a line-out and sprinted 40 metres to open the scoring. George Nuttycombe converted and then added a penalty a few minutes later. 

The visitors hit back in the 11th minute when a loose pass was kicked on and a scramble over the host's line led to a soft try for Kyle Marriott being conceded under the sticks making the conversion for Chris Ashwin a formality. 

Straight from the restart Josh Mynett earned a penalty which they took quickly, but this came to nothing. 

Luckily the Saints had infringed again, Peter Harris was yellow-carded, and Nuttycombe added a further three points.

Weston then scored another try within the first 20 minutes when Mynett intercepted to race 20 metres down the touchline to score, which Nuttycombe converted with a fine effort. 

It wasn't long before the visitors hit back when Cam Taylor dived over.

With Weston unable to capitalise on some excellent play, St Austell then had their best period of possession, and it ended with Max Bullen scoring out wide, which Ashwin converted.

Weston were awarded another penalty and Nuttycombe kicked over to give Weston a 23-19 lead at half-time.

The second half began with captain Tom Sugg yellow-carded in the 50th minute and St Austell piled the pressure on and took the lead for the first time with a try from Rhys Daniel, converted by Ashwin. 

With Sugg back on the pitch Weston equalised with another Nuttycombe penalty.

But with eight minutes to go Daniel sprinting away to score another try, converted by Ashwing, to put them seven points clear. 

Weston were not done and more great work by Davis before Chris Young put Marshall away for a great try in the corner. 

Nuttycombe, who had been in great kicking form all day, could not quite manage the conversion from wide out, and despite a few scares, the visitors held out for a two point victory.

Weston were due to play in the opening round of the Webb Ellis Somerset Cup on Saturday (November 25) but have been awarded a walk over and are through to the last eight after visitors Burnham-on-Sea conceded the game.