IN an exciting match at the Recreation Ground, Weston were beaten in the ninth minute of stoppage time when a crossfield kick by Chinnor’s No 10 James Cathcart was successfully chased down by wing Sebastian Corpe.

Weston 21 pts

Chinnor 25 pts

IN an exciting match at the Recreation Ground, Weston were beaten in the ninth minute of stoppage time when a crossfield kick by Chinnor’s No 10 James Cathcart was successfully chased down by wing Sebastian Corpe. It was a sad end to the hosts’ effort, again brilliantly led by skipper George Sparks.

But for the second successive week, the Seasiders were in arrears before the match was two minutes old.

Having lost possession twice, Chinnor centre Hugh Morgan was the beneficiary, but Weston were soon in the lead.

James Mackay was wide with a penalty attempt but a poor clearance fell to James Reid, whereupon the veteran centre evaded three tackles and was eventually driven over.

Mackay converted, and 15 minutes later, scrum-half Jack Conway’s tap penalty passes through several pairs of hands before No 8 Sparks touched down, Mackay’s conversion attempt striking a post.

Before the break, Cathcart and Mackay exchanged penalties and Weston were unlucky when the fly-half’s delicate chip was gathered by Reid who was in the move again before the ball was scrambled away.

The interval score of 15-8 was just about right and four minutes into the second half Mackay and Reid executed the same move but this time Chinnor obstructed and Mackay kicked his second penalty.

Chinnor skipper Hutchings was yellow carded on the hour but again, Mackay’s penalty shot struck an upright. At this stage Weston had the chance to make it count but Joe Waterman’s pass to the unmarked Paul Sprague was off target.

Wing Kirk Middlemiss was sent to the bin on 80 minutes for a deliberate knock-on, Cathcart converting another penalty, but Ashley Russell grabbed the restart and Mackay dropped a goal to give his team a three point advantage.

But with time running out, Corpe’s effort, converted by Cathcart meant that the Seasiders had to be content with a bonus point.

Weston: J Waterman, K Middlemiss (sinbin 80), S Saunders, J Reid, P Sprague, J Mackay, J Conway, D Swann (L Grimes 82), D Burge, D Price, A Richards, A Russell, G Wright, G Simpson, G Sparks (c). Replacements not used: S Waterman and E Saunders.

Weston do not have a fixture on Saturday because it is a Somerset Cup weekend and the Seasiders have a bye into the second round to be played on January 1/2.