Sidmouth edge Weston-super-Mare 38-34 after late tries

Weston-super-Mare had hopes of building on their good performance against Newent a week ago on their first-ever league visit to the Devon coastal town of Sidmouth, but their hosts denied them victory thanks to two late tries, writes Chris Heath.

Sidmouth opened the scoring in the fourth minute when, following a kick to the 20-metre area, the home pack worked their way to the line and scored through No.8 Shaun Malton, with fly-half Dan Powell adding the extras.

Weston hit back when a strong run by full-back Alex Howman led to a penalty kicked by fly-half George Nuttycombe.

Sidmouth were unlucky not to increase their lead after a superb break by their inside centre Tom Mead was halted by a forward pass.

From a penalty scrum, the home pack drove over the line with Malton claiming his second try, which went unconverted.

Going into the second quarter, Sidmouth broke through some poor defence despite some big hits, and the ball was chipped into the vacant wingers' area for Fin Lashbrook to benefit from a kick-through and dot the ball down.

Powell expertly converted from wide out, extending their lead to 19-3.

It looked as though Sidmouth would secure the bonus point before the half-hour mark, but they inexplicably gave away a penalty near the line.

Centre Huw Morgan was trying his hardest with a couple of decent runs and some excellent hold-up play.

Weston put together a decent period of play, only to be halted by another ball spilt while attacking.

The visitors then benefited from two quick-fire penalties, ending up with a line-out near the hosts' line with half-time fast approaching.

Prop Charlie Brabham looked to have crossed the whitewash, but the referee deemed it to be short.

Instead, he awarded Weston another penalty, and this time, after the forwards had huffed and puffed, the ball was spun out to Morgan, who crossed under the sticks, making Nuttycombe's conversion easier.

With the benefit of the slope in the second half, things looked a bit more optimistic for the visitors.

However, Weston’s No.8 Nasili Ikahihifo was sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle.

This was followed by Lashbrook crossing for his second, and Sidmouth’s bonus-point try, which Powell converted.

Back came Weston as Souch kicked and gathered, then outpacing the defenders to score, with Nuttycombe converting.

An up-and-under by Souch led to mayhem in the home defence, and after speedy flanker Matt James carried the play on, the ball was spun wide for replacement centre Will Crane, on for the injured Morgan, to cross wide out on the left.

Nuttycombe hit the post with the conversion, but he added the extras to the next touchdown.

A strong break by Ikahihifo, carried on by Sugg and finished by Souch, after good work by centre Marcus Nel, put Weston in the lead for the first time.

A wayward pass after appearing to weather the storm led to yet another Sidmouth scrum near the visitors’ line, but a chip ahead prompted Souch to call a mark over the line.

His clearance kick landed near the ten-metre line.

After Sidmouth attempted to run the ball from a scrum, Ikahihifo stole the ball and put Nuttycombe over, but his conversion was missed.

Weston were penalised, and Sidmouth once again went for the line-out option.

Scrum-half Blake Boyland was then yellow-carded, and it looked as if the hosts would eventually cross the line through full-back Rory O’Brien.

Powell’s conversion cut Weston’s lead to one point, with one minute remaining.

But Sidmouth continued the pressure and from a catch-and-drive, Malton completed his hat-trick to secure victory.