Weston-super-Mare’s hopes of ending a run of three Regional One Tribute Ale South West defeats were high, with second-row Ashley Russell equalising Chris Brown’s record 461st appearance and skipper Tom Sugg his 150th game for the club, writes Chris Heath.
The laborious journey to storm-swept St Austell, hampered by traffic delays, meant Weston had to settle for a shortened warm-up period.
With the wind at their back and playing down the slope, they needed to take advantage of the conditions.
The visitors started quite well and earned an early penalty through a combination of prop Jason Rowlands and centre Marcus Nel but were unable to take advantage of the ensuing line-out.
After a loose pass from Weston after winning a scrum, St Austell raced away, and eventually it was tighthead prop Charles Nicholson who scored by the posts, with fly-half Neldus Kruger adding the conversion.
Until that point the visitors had had the better of the game, but St Austell’s dander was certainly up.
A breakout by left-wing Stuart Souch led to a high tackle and scrum to the visitors, but the hosts’ stout defence held them at bay.
Weston hit back just before the half-hour mark when a nice half-break by George Nuttycombe gave outside centre Huw Morgan an easy score, which the Weston fly-half converted.
Weston, however, dropped the restart and then conceded a penalty which was kicked to the corner.
A catch-and-drive ensued, but a tremendous jackal by blindside flanker Matt James thwarted the hosts.
A lovely break by scrum half Dax Blyth was again spoilt by a loose kick, so the sides went into the break level at seven points apiece.
At half-time Ieuan John replaced Jason Rowlands at loosehead prop.
The hosts’ restart didn't get ten metres and after concerted pressure and excellent passing Souch went over in the corner to give Weston the lead for the first time.
But the wing was then given ten minutes on the sidelines for a knock-on.
St Austell took advantage of the extra man from the penalty that followed to regain the lead with openside flanker Cameron scoring in the corner and Kruger expertly added the extras.
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Souch was joined in the sin bin by St Austell’s outside centre Adam King for an identical offence.
Weston then introduced lock Louis Brooker for James, but St Austell increased their lead with a second Nicholson try from a catch-and-drive.
The hosts scored again straight from the restart when a massive gap opened in the visitors’ defence, and a seventy-metre rumble ended with a try by lock Mark Vian, with Kruger slotting the conversion.
Weston then made a replacement, with Jake Stewart replacing fullback Will Crane, and Robson Bird replacing Russell, but not before Kruger had converted the hosts’ next try from replacement scrum-half Will Tanswell.
Weston then lost John to injury.
Stewart then went to scrum-half for the hard-working Blyth, but the prospect of reducing the lead looked remote, and it was compounded when they lost impressive flanker Jacob Cox to injury.
The visitors were battling but were unable to find a cutting edge.
After their disastrous fifteen minutes in the second half, in which they conceded three tries, Weston never recovered.
The defeat sees Weston drop to 10th place in the table ahead of Saturday’s home game against Launceston, who lost 28-14 at home to Exmouth at the weekend, and are in fourth spot.
Kick-off on Saturday, October 31, is 2.30pm.
Weston United moved up to third place in the Counties Three Tribute Ale Somerset South table after claiming local bragging rights with a commanding 50-8 home victory over Hornets third XV.
Inside centre Cam Maslen scored three of the Weston tries, with one each for hooker Harry Nash, tighthead prop Sam Light, second row Ross Chesher, openside flanker Rhodri Williams and full back Max Hardcastle-Barrow, who also kicked two conversions and skipper Chris Young added the extras to three tries.
Weston Athletic were knocked off the Counties Four Tribute Ale Somerset South’s top spot after losing 24-14 away to Yeovil second XV.
The visitors’ tries came from Rhys Matthews and Ryan Donegan, with Adam Budd converting both.
On Saturday, October 31, Weston United are away to Castle Cary, the Counties Three Tribute Ale Somerset South’s unbeaten leaders, kick-off 2.30pm, while Weston Athletic will host the Counties Four Tribute Ale Somerset South’s basement side, Morganians, kick-off 2pm.
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