Weston conceded five second half tries in a poor display against visitors Thornbury.

WESTON 16 pts

THORNBURY 29 pts

JUST after the interval, Weston were 16-0 ahead at the Recreation Ground, but in a poor second half facing the strong wind, they conceded five tries to fall to their fourth league defeat of the season, and drop to fourth place in South West 1.

The first-half 11-point advantage should have been more. Options of a scrum and line-out were taken when a brace of 20-metre penalties were offered and the visitors showed what was to come later with multiple possession which was well defended.

The Seasiders opened well with fly-half Dan Lomax’s 30-metre drop goal in the seventh minute following 10 phases.

Five minutes later, good work by Chris Young and Paul Morrissey resulted in a try for lock Bryan Webb.

Lomax’s penalty in first-half time added took the score to 11-0 and they quickly added their second try.

Hayden Tuttiett made the early running and Morrissey’s delightfully timed pass sent wing Ollie Caton in at the right corner.

But the visitors quickly replied with a brace of tries in as many minutes. Full-back Alfie Richardson and centre Will Sharratt were the scorers, the second converted by scrum-half Bob Adams for 16-12.

After that, Weston were rarely in he match and, with the strong wind now in their faces, the ball was lost on the halfway line and Adams obliged for Thornbury who took a single point lead.

Replacement Sam Jenkins then scored the visitors’ bonus point try and with four minutes of normal time remaining and Weston now on the attack, they decided to change their front row. But the scrum failed and all that remained was Adams’ conversion of Richardson’s second try to put the match to bed.

There was nothing to celebrate for Weston’s injury-hit team except the performance of back rower Paul Morrissey, who produced an outstanding match.

Weston: R Bennett, O Caton, C Young, H Morgan, M Watkins, D Lomax, H Tuttiett, R Ford, M Hocking, O Streeter, B Webb, A Glen, J Matthews, P Morrissey, T Sugg. Replacements used: D Crompton, R Johnston, R Mackay.

The venues of Weston’s South West 1 matches have been switched. Tomorrow (Friday), they will play Clevedon at the Recreation Ground and the reverse fixture will be on April 16.