Weston defeated Minehead Barbarians in a low-scoring encounter at The Rec.

Weston Utd 15 pts

Minehead Barbarians 5 pts

United started the match playing into a blustery wind and found the first quarter of the match hard going against a heavy opposition.

Minehead missed the chance to take an early lead with a penalty. But 12 minutes in and Weston took the lead. Having been awarded a penalty, they kicked to the corner and secured the line-out and from the resulting drive Simon Hudson touched down for the only score of the first-half.

The second half was all Weston as the wind picked up and the rain lashed down. The Weston scrum was now dominating proceedings and the pack were regularly shunting their heavier opponents backwards.

On the hour mark, a poor clearance kick by Minehead was collected by fly-half George Chapman to cross for an easy score and his conversion attempt from out wide rebounded off the post.

With 10 minutes to play, a Weston scrum was gaining momentum when Hudson broke blind, popped to Ben Searle who passed to winger Ollie Caton to crash over.

Weston went in search of the fourth for the bonus point. Caton made a great break up to the 10-metre line and was thwarted by a dangerous high tackle.

With a penalty awarded in a great attacking position and Minehead about to lose a player to the sin bin, Matt Burns ran in from full-back to cause a large needless scuffle. The referee correctly sent both players to the sin bin and reversed the original penalty and the chance went awry.

In the last five minutes, Minehead were camped near to the Weston try line and finally managed to score a try in the corner in injury time.

The front row of Jake Wheatley, Joe Pullen and Will Hunt had a fine afternoon and caused their opponents several problems. Second row Ben Cradock carried and tackled relentlessly and grafted to the final whistle.

Weston Athletic 80 pts

Old Culverhaysian 5 pts

Weston completed the double over Bath side Old Culverhaysians with a 14-try win in dreadful weather.

The Athletic fielded a young side with four colts, Anderson, Mu, Tilsley and Wills making the first senior appearances.

Despite rain and strong wind, Athletic attempted to run the ball at every opportunity. During a first-half which saw many moves break down as a result of wayward passing, Athletic nevertheless scored five tries with a try on debut for Brandon Mu and three others for the backs.

The forwards were dominant and their attempted pushover resulted in a penalty try. A breakout by the Culverhay backs led to a single try for a side, who were beaten early on but refused to give up.

The second half saw Weston take complete control and they scored a further nine tries with hat-tricks for full-back Josh Wheeler and for Ben Fondu, who is still eligible for Colts rugby, making only his second appearance for Athletic.

Special mention to the sporting Weston players, Blackborow, Stuart, Noszkay and Light, who volunteered to take it in turns to play for the opposition as they arrived one man short.