Weston touched down 13 tries against Newton Abbot at the Recreation Ground, in what was their best performance of the season.

WESTON 83 pts

NEWTON ABBOT 19 pts

WESTON touched down 13 tries against creditable opposition at the Recreation Ground last Saturday in what was their best performance of the season, some of the scores having real significance.

Harry Jones scored his second hat-trick, James Mackay’s nine conversions took him past 200 points, James Arnold’s try, Weston’s 100th of the term, saw him sign off before departing for New Zealand, and Ross Bennett’s double celebrated his century of first team appearances; and it was Bennett who set the ball rolling after only 90 seconds.

Jones called a mark inside his 22, ran it back and with help from Mackay, the Weston full-back opened his team’s account.

Mackay converted from wide out but the All Whites replied five minutes later with a try by hooker Dean Avery.

However, the Seasiders were soon back on the attack and after missing a couple of chances, flanker Shaun Eaton was on hand to finish off good work by Sylvan Edwards, George Sparks and David Burge.

Mackay converted again and before the break, Matthew Watkins scored twice, Mackay’s conversion of his second took the interval score to 26-5.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Burge set off on a 50-metre run and David Swann gave lock Harry Somers his third senior try.

Bennett then scored his second via Watkins after the visitors had been unable to deal with Mackay’s long punt, the fly-half converting to bring up his double century. Then, within the following 20 minutes, Jones took his hat-trick.

The first, from a 60-metre run to the line, the second following a defensive error and the third from Mackay’s delivery.

Mackay converted all three and as Weston’s avalanche continued, Eaton took his second try closely followed by Arnold, Paul Morrissey and Sparks, Mackay majorising twice.

In between, Newton Abbot’s scrum-half Matt Newnan scored twice, fly-half Rob Avery-Wright converting both.

Weston: R Bennett, H Jones, S Edwards, S Smee (J Arnold 59), M Watkins, J Mackay, D Waldon, D Swann, D Burge (c), P Hobbs (S Donegan 30), S Donegan (P Hobbs 50), H Somers (A Russell 72), A Russell (G Sparks 75), S Eaton, P Morrissey, G Sparks (A Glen 37).

Weston make the short journey to Bridgwater on Saturday for their quarter-final match in the Somerset Renault Cup. At the time of going to press the kick-off time will be at 3pm.

Before last Saturday’s match, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Clive Sibley, a former player who passed away on January 8, aged 58.