Weston started the new National 3 South West campaign in fine style with an emphatic victory over Newbury.

NEWBURY 6 pts

WESTON 34 pts

WESTON started their National 3 South West campaign in fine style with this emphatic victory at Monk’s Lane.

The last time that the Seasiders were there, back in April 1997 they were beaten 54-13, but Saturday was an entirely different story.

The Weston scrimmage was dominant from the start and as things got even better, three tries were scored during the final quarter.

James Mackay gave his team the lead in the fifth minute with a 40 metre penalty. Home fly-half Oscar Matthews levelled matters 12 minutes later, but in the 23rd minute, Weston took the lead that they were never to lose.

Matthew Watkins, a new signing from Nailsea and Backwell had earlier shown his pace and it was the left wing who sprinted to the corner for the opening try.

Mackay converted from the touchline but Weston had already thwarted Newbury’s efforts with some important defending and went to the interval leading by 10-3.

Centre Andrew Evans was over in the third minute of the second half but the try was disallowed and Matthews reduced Newbury’s deficit with a straight penalty.

However, Mackay replied in kind, and after seven phases, George Wright found enough room to dive over at the right corner. Mackay again converted superbly and this opened the floodgates.

By now Georges Sparks’ pack was completely dominant and a splendid break by full-back Chris Young gave Evans his first try for the club.

Mackay’s conversion followed and as the match drew to a close, Newbury’s attempted clearance fell into the hands of Ross Bennett and Sparks was able to give Wright the chance to run past several defenders for a bonus point try at the posts.

Mackay converted to give the fly-half a 100 per cent kicking return of 14 points.

Weston: C Young, G Wright, M Roberts, A Evans, M Watkins, J Mackay, R Bennett (J Reid 79), D Swann, G Cooper (C Withers 72), S Donegan, A Glen, G Sparks (capt) (S Board 79), J Rudkin, K Hobbs, G Simpson.

This was a competent performance by the Seasiders whose new recruits, Watkins, Combined Services centres Evans and Mal Roberts and hooker Glen Cooper, all played their parts. But it has to be said that Newbury were not the side they used to be, having suffered three successive relegations.

There will be more difficult days to come, starting on Saturday with the visit of Newton Abbot who defeated Old Patesians by 15-5 last week.

Wells 49 pts

Weston Utd 7 pts

UNITED travelled to Wells for their debut appearance in the Somerset Premier League.

Short of pre-season action following two cancellations from opponents, struggled from the start conceding an early score. Thereafter, Weston created pressure on the Wells line, but lacked the cutting edge to gain the required score.

Wells added a further converted score, and would have added another but for an excellent last ditch tackle from Matt Burns, to leave the half-time score at 14-0 to the home side.

Wells scored three converted tries soon after the break, all from long range, followed by another brace.

The highlight of the second half for Weston was the introduction of Colts Lomax, Fisher and Hancock, who combined beautifully down the blind side to create an excellent overlap for Hancock to score. Fly-half Dave Taylor converted from wide out.