Weston returned from Bideford with a well deserved victory.

BIDEFORD 14 pts

WESTON 26 pts

WESTON travelled to Bideford for the first time in a league fixture and a tough encounter ensued.

Weston took the lead through a penalty by fly-half Glenn Dickson, but this was soon cancelled out by the hosts. Penalties were exchanged before centre Kirk Middlemiss had to leave the field of play with a knee injury.

This resulted in a reshuffle in the backs with replacement Dan Lomax moving to fly-half and Dickson moving to the centre. Weston could have taken the lead near half-time when a fine break by outside centre Robbie Mackay ended with a misdirected pass to full-back Ross Bennett with the line gaping.

With the scores level, Weston started the second half with a renewed vigour and eventually breached the hosts’ line when a fine passage of play involving flanker Rich Bignell and prop Ollie Streeter ended with Lomax ghosting through a gap to put Dickson over in the corner.

The conversion was missed but shortly after the restart the game was held up for 50 minutes following a nasty neck injury to a Bideford player which required an ambulance.

When the game eventually restarted, it was Bideford who looked the more likely and indeed they drew level when a powerful drive by their forwards ended with a well deserved try. In fact, the hosts took the lead for the first time when Weston infringed.

This seemed to galvanise Weston and they were soon back in front when a moment of brilliance from Lomax found him the space to get through for a tremendous score, which was converted by Dickson.

Weston were now taking charge and Dickson extended the lead after a bone-crunching tackle by Mackay led to Bideford infringing inside their 20-metre area.

A great move involving flanker Shaun Eaton No 8 Tom Crossman and the reliable Ash Russell, ended with Dickson crossing for his second try and his 19th point of the match.

With a much-changed side, this game was a potential banana skin for Weston. However, the players who came in all performed admirably. Crosssman and right wing Troy Hannam on his debut had very good games and Lomax was a revelation at fly-half. Flanker Rich Bignell was superb throughout, as was Mackay in the backs.

Weston: D Crompton (M Hocking 40), R Ford, O Streeter, B Webb (P Sprague 60), A Russell, S Eaton, R Bignall, T Crossman, H Tuttiett, G Dickson, T Hannam, K Middlemiss (D Lomax 15), R Mackay, C Young, R Bennett.