Hornets maintain their winning start to the season with a 41-12 victory at Barton Hill.

IN dry conditions and on a perfect pitch for running rugby, Hornets maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a six try victory over Barton Hill.

Barton Hill broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when their No 8 touched down following a pushover scrum. Not to be outdone, Hornets responded from the restart, winning good turnover ball from the kick off they drove deep into the Barton Hill 22, with Matt Parker smashing through the defence to score under the posts, giving Sam Lloyd-Jones an easy conversion.

The hosts missed a penalty goal, only to see Lloyd-Jones dissect the uprights with an effort of his own moments later to extend the lead to 10-5 at the break.

The second period began with Hornets on the attack. This led to a series of five metre scrums which eventually saw Sean Disney touch down with Lloyd-Jones adding the extras.

Following slick interplay between the backs, the opening came for Kirk Middlemiss to cross in the corner. The conversion was missed, but Hornets now led 22-5. Soon after they lost Lloyd-Jones with an ankle injury, but this gave an opportunity to welcome back Harry Simmons from a 10 month spell out of the 1st XV due to injury.

When a penalty was kicked to the corner, the resulting line-out gave way to the bonus point try for Harry Nash. Jermaine Jones was successful with a superb conversion from out wide.

Making their final change with Ross Cheeseborough replacing Dexter Nettleton, Hornets scored again when Matt Cornish touched down, with Jones adding the extras.

Soon after, Cornish popped up out wide to finish off an excellent hand-ling move to put the visitors 41-5 up.

Barton Hill scored a consolation try when their No 8 went over for his second try. Hornets were forced into playing out the last five minutes with 14 men following the loss of Middlemiss with injury.

The highlights of the day for Hornets were the return of Josh Partridge and Harry Simmons, and the low penalty count.

On Saturday, Hornets entertain Bristol Harlequins at Hutton Moor Park with a 3pm kick-off.

Hornets 2nd XV 36 pts

Weston Athletic 18 pts

WESTON opened the scoring with a penalty and a converted try, but Hornets hit back with tries for Scott Burrell and veteran Dave Bird, one converted by James Collings to give Hornets a 12-11 lead at half-time.

Weston responded straight after the break with a try. Hornets responded by dominating in the scrums and line-outs. Collings and young debutant Jamie Richardson used the centre partnership of Matt Vaughn and Josh Littlewood, creating lots of chances.

Vaughn bagged a try before Littlewood added a brace of his own and with full-back Dan Tolson also crossing, Weston were falling behind. More debutants for the seconds slotted in neatly, with Olly Beresford and Brad Ashfield showing promise.

Nailsea & Backwell 2nd XV 31 pts

Hornets 3rd XV 29 pts

THE Thirds travelled to Nailsea & Backwell 2nds in what turned out to be a fluctuating encounter. Hornets elected to play up the slope and after a couple of mistakes, found themselves 14-0 down.

Hornets fought back with a try from Steve Edwards after good work from Mark Millman. Shortly after, full-back Rob Owen set up Simon Owens to score, converted by Jason Connolly.

Good work by Dennis Hull fed Mark Shephard to score Hornets’ third try of the half. Connolly converted to give a half-time score of 19-14 to Hornets.

After the break, Hornets took advantage of a line-out in the home sides 22 to allow Hull to score in the corner. A disastrous five minute spell saw Hornets concede three tries to see Nailsea take a 31-24 lead.

With 90 seconds to go, Des Allen made an fine break from halfway, only to be brought down five yards from the line. Nailsea conceded a penalty, which was quickly taken by man-of-the-match Shephard who scored.

The conversion was missed and Nailsea ended up as victors by the narrow margin of 31-29, although Hornets did pick up two bonus points.