Weston suffer first defeat of the season

WESTON Under-14s travelled to North Bristol and suffered their first defeat of the season to Thornbury Broncos side by seven tries to six.

Despite another superb power display by Weston’s forwards, who dominated the hosts for much of the game, it was the pacy and clinical Broncos backs who won the day.

Weston took an early lead through No 8 Tom Hughes, following a long-range break from centre Eddie Davies. Thornbury soon hit back with three quick tries, but Jack Howard added another try for a half-time score of 24-10 in the Broncos favour.

The second half started well for Weston with Jake Middleton scoring. Thornbury soon hit back to stretch their lead to 31-15. The half ebbed and flowed with the Weston adding tries by Hughes (2) and another for Howard.

Unfortunately for Weston, the home side converting four from seven tries with Weston not able to add any extras.

Special mention to skipper Cosmin for another fine display.

The Under-12s hosted a strong Nailsea & Backwell side, who ran in six converted tries for a 42-5 scoreline.

It was a poor performance from Weston and there were little positives for Weston to take from the game, apart from a consolation try at the end from Jack Press and the performance of the forwards in some of the drives and scrums.

However, Weston were not on their game. Newcomer George Morton-Bool made his first competitive appearance for Weston.

The Under-9s hosted Nailsea & Backwell in the wet, but both teams weathered the stormy conditions.

Weston made a quick start and scored through Jacob Simpson, before Nailsea scored from the halfway line. The next score was created with good interplay to enable George Nuttycombe to put the ball down.

Nailsea came back again with a good try and the scores were level 2-2 at half-time.

In the second half Weston came out a bit stronger with some great tackles enabling Will Crane to dart for the line and Jacob to score the last try of the match. The tie ended 4-2 to Weston.

With the rain and hail hammering down, the second match was hard going, but Nailsea got the better of Weston.

There was some great tackling from Will Flavin, Kieron, George, Jacob, Will Crane and Ben Crook, but Nailsea scored two good tries in the first-half.

After the break, it was more even, but once again Weston just missed out on a couple of tries. Nailsea scored again and it looked like Weston were going to lose, but they regrouped and scored a consolidation try by George Nuttycombe to make it 3-1 to Nailsea.

The Under-10s entertained a well-drilled Nailsea & Backwell team, playing two games. Nailsea soon had Weston under pressure, but Weston’s defence held out with good rucking and tackling from Robbie, Danny, Josh, and Huw.

Nailsea kept going and soon took the lead. Some good running from Olly, Sam and Jayden kept their hopes up, but went 3-0 down at the break.

They came out fighting in the second half, but they conceded two late tries to lose 5-0.

In the second game, some great running from Taylor, George and debutant Josh kept the visitors on the back foot, before Jayden broke through to score, soon followed by another try.

After the break, Sam, Danny and Riley made good ground, but Nailsea hit back with two tries of their own. Weston pressed again and Jayden received the ball deep in his own half and ran 50 metres to win the game 3-2.

Men of the match went to Jayden and Josh.

In a well-contested game, the Under-8s took on a determined Nailsea & Backwell team, who opened the scoring early in the game.

Strong defence and excellent tagging by Ben Donachie and Billy Charlton brought the Weston team back in to contention with tries by Aaron Cocking and Harry Collard and by half-time, the score was tied at 4-4.

During the second half, Nailsea put on the pressure and despite William Bamsey connecting well with Tom Collard, Weston found themselves trailing with only a few minutes to go.

Tom Collier and Raymeau set up some fine attacking moves and in the end there was only a single try separating the two teams.

HORNETS Under-12s hosted Cheddar and Broad Plain (Bristol) in poor weather that included rain and hail.

Cheddar played the better rugby in the first game and ran out winners three tries to nil. There were some good individual performances from Tom Read and Lawrence Pilgrim.

Broad Plain beat Cheddar in the second match and Hornets had to up their game for the last match against Broad Plain.

An early kick was chased superbly by Reeve Bailey who popped the ball to Alex Leeks to score. After that, it was all Hornets and Broad Plain did not get a look in.

A further try from Leeks, two from Tom Read and one from Lawrence Pilgrim resulted in a resounding 5-0 scoreline. Leeks also converted two of them and Hornets were deserved winners.

The previous week, the side, hampered by unavailable players and injuries, lost six tries to nil to a strong Taunton side.

The Under-15s travelled to Thornbury and came away with a 39-8 victory in the cup.

After absorbing pressure on their own line, Hornets launched an attack through Mohide, Richardson and Holyday. Cocking found Eades out on the wing who scored the opening try.

Thornbury hit back with a penalty kick before Hornets scored tries through Chamberlain, Higgins and Turner.

Surges from Entwistle, Fitzpatrick and Coe got Hornets close and a well-rehearsed penalty move saw Holyday touch down under the posts, converted by Humphris.

More good play from Holyday, Richardson, Coe and Turner set up Francis on the overlap. His lobbed pass found Constable at full tilt to finish a great try. From the restart, Holyday used his strength to break through and score, converted by Humphris.

The Under-13s travelled to Bristol to take on Cleve on a bright and blustery day.

Early pressure saw Cleve panic on their own line and Luke Collins crashed over for the try, the extras added by Bradley Lucas. Cleve responded with a well-worked try of their own which they converted and added another shortly afterwards.

Hornets managed to turn over ball and Oscar Brown produced a strong run and touched down close to the corner. Charlie Fairhurst kicked the conversion to send Hornets into half-time leading 14-12.

After the break, the hosts took the game by the scruff of the neck. Sterling work from Chenoweth, Langdon and Carver-Cox in the loose gave Hornets plenty of opportunity to use the ball, but poor decision lost the advantage.

Four unanswered tries and two conversions for the hosts in the second half saw Cleve run out comfortable winners.

The Under-8s entertained Broad Plain at a wet and windy Nest.

With both squads having sufficient numbers to make up two teams, Hornets Reds got off to a great start and held on to snatch a win.

The Blue team got off to poor start, falling behind to several tries, but made amends in the second half with a much improved performance, but unable to pull back the lead.

The second round of games saw the Blues continue to improve, but Broad Plain’s better support play proved decisive.

The Reds started strongly, but with the conditions becoming worse, errors started to creep in and Broad Plain managed to keep the ball in hand and turn the game in their favour.

The Under-9s came out fighting and took Broad Plain by surprise with some early tries, but the final score was 7-4 to Broad Plain, but could easily have gone either way.

The second game saw the weather deteriorate. In a valiant effort, Hornets lost 5-2, but again the result could have gone either way.

The Under-14s defeated Frampton Cotterell 31-12 in appalling conditions. Tyler Hayes scored two tries, one converted by Tom Bailey, after good work by Ieuan Walters, Dan Swan, Nick Hitchins and Sam Forster.

The last try of the half was scored by Forster after he ran 80 metres to touch down, also converted by Bailey.

More good play from Liam Preston, Rhys Manning and new boy Bailey Hill set up Hayes for another try. Man of the match Forster rounded off the scoring, again converted by Bailey.