Players from Weston Rugby Club have been selected to play for Bristol Rugby Academy.

Three players from Weston Rugby Club represented Bristol Rugby Academy to play two under-15s matches against Devon in Plymouth.

From Bristol’s Developing Player Programme (DPP), Weston provided Joe Ham (centre) and Lewis Paterson (full-back) and they were accompanied from Bristol’s Silver Player Development Group (PDG), Kyron Pearce (centre).

All three players made a real contribution to the games they played. Pearce and Paterson both deserve a special mention as they were playing a year up.

Ham made his presence known as centre in the first game. This was a fairly even game where Devon scored tries in the first-half and Bristol nearly levelled the score in the second half.

Pearce and Paterson worked hard in the second game where it was apparent the Devon team had played a lot more together as a team. Nevertheless, the emphasis for Bristol Academy is to assess and develop character traits, as well as physical, technical and tactical elements.

Four Weston Under-14 players travelled north to Sixways to represent Bristol RFC Academy v Worcester Warriors Academy.

From Bristol’s DPP, Weston provided Euan Braidwood (lock), Joe Connolly (hooker) and Lewis Paterson, and were accompanied by Pearce.

Knowing Worcester represented a strong opposition, the Bristol coaches emphasised the experience that would be gained from participating at the next level. What followed was two extremely hard fought games, with Weston represented in both.

While the results did not favour Bristol in either game, the commitment and determination showed by all Weston boys was a credit to them and their club. They all worked very hard and never gave up and none looked out of place.