Resounding victory for Athletic

Weston Athletic 50 pts

Wells II 3 pts

WITH both the first and second team matches postponed due to underfoot conditions, Grahame Hill's Athletic were, again, the only Weston side to take to the field on Saturday, and another resounding victory was recorded.

They led easily by 36-0 at the interval, and went on to score eight tries without reply to take them to fourth place in Somerset 2 (South).

Jon Filer opened the scoring in the first minute when he converted his own try and was soon adding the points to a score by James Reid.

Filer's half-break produced a try for Kevin Hobbs and Reid's tap penalty did the same for Rich Bishop's try which Filer converted.

Bishop touched down again eight minutes later and Sam Lloyd-Jones rounded off the first half with a try in the left corner.

Wells retaliated in the second half and Dave Wheatley's penalty reduced the arrears. But Athletic finished strongly with Lloyd-Jones and Reid completing the win with their second tries, Dan Prime converting both.

In recent matches, the club has introduced youngsters to the Athletic XV to give them senior experience, and Saturday was no exception.

Players such as wings Robbie Hazzard and Dan Prime have been outstanding as have pack members Chris Ford, Richard Frost, Roy Blackborrow and Lewis Hancock. Others showing immense promise are prop Luke Grimes and lock Aaron Collins.

JAMES Hedges made his 100th appearance for Weston's Athletic in their match against Wells on Saturday, taking his total of club appearances to 603.

Hedges (50) started his club career in the newly-formed Under-14s team in 1971 and proceeded through the age groups, eventually making his first team debut as a 19-year-old against the Metropolitan Police in 1978.

A full-back or left wing, he made 213 first team appearances and 290 for United.

The record for club appearances is 708 and is held by secretary Tony Russell who played in 182 first team matches, 400 for United and 126 for the Athletic.