Weston’s wings James Arnold and Matthew Watkins contributed four of their six tries as the Seasiders defeated Malvern 37-10.

MALVERN 10 pts

WESTON 37 pts

WESTON’S wings James Arnold and Matthew Watkins contributed four of their six tries as the Seasiders eventually cruised to victory on their first visit to Spring Lane.

Arnold crossed three times and Watkins once but for the first hour, errors abounded, and with James Mackay’s boot malfunctioning, things were very tight.

They took the lead in the 12th minute when Mackay’s 45-metre penalty attempt was knocked on, and from the resultant scrum, Watkins went over at the right corner.

But Malvern were in front eight minutes later when James Southall converted Nicholas Miller’s try after Weston had lost the ball at a set scrum.

However, Weston soon took the lead that they were never to lose when locks Shaun Eaton and Harry Somers helped to set up the first of Arnold’s tries.

Weston then extended their advantage with flanker Paul Morrissey’s first senior try but poor handling and lost possession prevented further advance to leave the interval score at 7-15.

Southall’s penalty shortly after the break brought the hosts back into the match and more abject handling was still in evidence until Eaton and Somers were again on hand from a tap penalty to put Arnold over.

Mackay converted, but during the move, Malvern’s No 8 Owen Jones sustained a serious leg injury and the match was delayed for 30 minutes while the ambulance was on the playing area. But on the resumption, with 20 minutes left, Weston were a different team.

The handling was perfect and possession was retained as 15 points were added.

Watkins’ run down the right touchline created a penalty, and after six phases from the line-out, Mackay scored at the posts. The fly-half’s conversion was quickly followed by accurate hands which gave Arnold his hat-trick and it was Mackay who finished things off with a penalty.

Weston: R Bennett, J Arnold, H Jones (S Smee 56), S Edwards, M Watkins, J Mackay, D Waldon, D Swann, D Burge, P Hobbs (D Price 70), S Eaton (A Russell 64), H Somers, G Simpson (c), P Morrissey, G Sparks.

Weston will be disappointed with their performance during the first hour of this match.

Unforced handling errors, wrong options and loss of possession could have proved costly against better opposition.

So their final 20 minutes will need to be continued at the Recreation Ground on Saturday against fourth-placed Barnstaple (3pm).