Weston recorded their third successive victory at home to Avonmouth Old Boys.

WESTON 37 pts

AVONMOUTH OLD BOYS 12 pts

WESTON duly overcame league newcomers Avonmouth Old Boys at the Rec but, as expected, the match was significantly more difficult than the previous two.

The visitors were tenacious in the loose, but Gavin Simpson’s pack were very much in the ascendancy at the set scrums, and they were able to secure another five league points. In addition, James Mackay’s 100 per cent kicking returned helped them on their way.

It was the fly-half’s 45 metre penalty which opened their account and he was soon converting a try by Shaun Eaton after the flanker had interfered in an Avonmouth back move.

Mackay kicked another penalty after James Arnold’s 40 metre burst which had been spoiled by a knock-on.

The visitors then pressed hard and in the 34th minute they reduced their arrears with a try by Chris Hamilton, converted by Andy Taylor, but Weston replied superbly three minutes later.

Gaining possession near their own line, the ball was quickly transferred to Matthew Watkins who sprinted 60 metres before providing the scoring pass to Ross Bennett. Mackay converted again for an interval scoreline of 20-7.

Mackay’s third penalty arrived after just 45 seconds of the second period, the scoring remaining at 23-7 for the next half hour as the visitors successfully closed their door.

But as they tired, Weston’s pressure at the set scrums had already began to tell and prop Phil Hobbs scored his first try for the club following seven picks-and-drives.

Five minutes later, Avonmouth were shunted backwards at their own put-in and scrum-half Dan Waldon scored easily at the posts.

Mackay converted both for a personal haul of 17 points, but the visitors had the final word in time added with an unconverted try by replacement George Tomkins.

Weston: R Bennett, J Arnold, H Jones, S Edwards, M Watkins (S Smee 67), J Mackay, D Waldon, D Swann, D Burge (C Withers h/t), P Hobbs (S Donegan h/t), H Somers, G Wright (P Hobbs 53), S Eaton, K Hobbs, G Simpson (c).

Weston have now scored 27 tries and 185 points in their opening three matches of the campaign. But the real test begins at Malvern on Saturday, followed by Barnstaple at home and a trip to Newton Abbot.