WESTON 24 pts BARNSTAPLE 35 pts - WESTON again failed to impress when they went down to Barnstaple at the Recreation Ground.

WESTON 24 ptsBARNSTAPLE 35 ptsWESTON again failed to impress when they went down to Barnstaple at the Recreation Ground.It was their third successive league defeat, which has sent them down to seventh place in South West 1 while it was the Devonians' first success away from home this season.The visitors got off to a sensational start with a try from behind their own line. In the fifth minute, James Mackay's grubber was gathered by Paul Scheres and 15 seconds later he was receiving the scoring pass at the other end.Mackay responded with a penalty, following good work by James Reid, but Barnstaple continued to attack and Paul Sprague did well to intervene to prevent Luke Berry scoring at the right corner.Grant Tuhakaraina sent the visitors further ahead with a 41-metre penalty and he soon converted a try by Mark Galliford who had easily dispossessed Chris Crichton, but Weston came back with Mackay's superb individual try which he converted and as half time ended, Ed Smith and Mike Kempton were held up short of the line.Weston would have been fairly happy with the 22-10 scoreline at the break, but Barnstaple the second half as they had the first with Berry's try in the 45th minute.Tuhakaraina converted and added a penalty 10 minutes later when Smith was yellow carded and the situation was compounded when Neil Giddy's precise crossfield kick found Berry who scored his second try. Tuhakaraina converted from the touchline and the Seasiders were now in trouble at 32-10.But with 10 minutes remaining, Barnstaple's James Lewis was sent to the sinbin and Crichton scored following replacement Kirk Middlemiss' kick to the Barnstaple line. Mackay converted, but when Weston conceded their 14th penalty, Tuhakaraina obliged again to put the result beyond doubt. Ben Main's try, converted by Mackay in time added, was too little, too late.This was another disappointing performance by the Seasiders, whose defensive frailties have conceded 13 tries in their last three matches.Second placed Bournemouth are visitors to the Rec on Saturday and the hosts will not need reminding that the Dorset club touched down seven times at Chapel Gate last December.Weston: C Crichton; J Reid, B Main, D Sanft, P Sprague; J Mackay, R Bennett (K Middlemiss 60); D Price (D Doughty 63), D Burge (capt), N Lavender, M Kempton, A Russell, E Smith (sinbin 55), J Gallagher (G Wright 66), D Fry.THE Baker Cup, last contested for before the leagues started in 1987, has been revived with a triangular tournament between Weston, Bridgwater and Taunton.Bridgwater have already won the trophy, having defeated Weston and Taunton over the Christmas period.The final match between the Seasiders and Taunton will be played at the Recreation Ground on Easter Monday, April 13, kick-off 3pm.