Somerset Premier

Weston Hornets 2nds 8, Wiveliscombe 51

WIVELISCOMBE experienced their first ever game on a 4G rugby pitch on this bitterly cold, wet afternoon at Weston, writes Roger Bellamy.

The good underfoot conditions enabled the West Somerset team to play an expansive game and they scored four tries before the break.

The score read 3-3 early on with Dan Quick converting an early penalty for the visitors which was cancelled out by David Litt.

Wiveliscombe’s set piece looked solid and gave the visitors a good platform to launch numerous attacks, with back row Daniel Smythe Moore rewarded with two first-half tries.

Scrum-half Hugh Kelly and left-wing Sam Gibbs added one try each for the other five-pointers.

Quick added three conversions and a penalty to hand Wivey a 29-3 half-time lead.

Conditions deteriorated in the second period and mistakes increased but, after Hornets got one back, the visitors carried on where they ended the first half moving the ball at every opportunity scoring another three tries.

Winger Sam Gibbs crossed for his second, capping a good all-round performance.

Quick showed good footwork to score a fine try which was followed by a typical scrum-half touchdown from Hugh Kelly. Quick converted two of the tries and added one penalty to bring his match tally to 16 points.

The 1st XV entertain Oldfield Old Boys on Saturday.

Somerset 2 (S)

Somerton 55, Wiveliscombe 2nds 12

WIVELISCOMBE are finding life difficult in Somerset Two with their young team having to play older, more experienced teams.

There is no doubt the tide will turn, so the club hopes the players will show patience and stick together.

Somerton proved too strong on this occasion and ended comfortable winners.

Wiveliscombe’s two tries came from Dan Clark and Kane Pepper with Gavin Dawes adding a conversion.

Western Counties (W)

St Austell 24, Wellington 12

ANY away trips are always difficult and this proved to the case for The R&Bs on Saturday as they made the long journey into Cornwall to take on St. Austell, writes Allyn Chetland.

The hosts started the brighter and soon scored a converted try after an unenforced mistake from Wellington.

Despite having the higher percentage of possession and having the upper hand and weight advantage up front, St. Austell found the R&Bs’ well-marshalled defence difficult to breakdown throughout the half.

Wellington made the cleaner breaks and were very unlucky to be penalised in front of St. Austell’s posts when pressing hard for the equalising score.

Soon after, another error resulted in St.Austell scoring their second converted try of the half to make the half-time score 14-0.

The R&Bs started well after the break and were soon on the front foot going through attacking phases that stretched the hosts defence on numerous occasions.

Following a series of quick rucks, second row Regan Walker powered over for a try near the posts for a well-deserved try.

It looked like full-back Alex Davey was successful with extra points – both touch judges putting up their flags – but the referee disagreed, and the try went unconverted.

This try was the spur that the R&Bs needed to up their game further and looked like the team most likely to score next.

With just over 15 minutes left, winger Nev Pitman received the ball just inside his own half and scorched over for an excellent try which Davey converted to make the score 14-12.

The R&Bs where pushing hard to get the score that would give them the lead but a penalty conceded deep inside St. Austell’s half soon saw Wellington desperately defending their own line.

The pressure told and the hosts extended their lead to 19-12 with an unconverted try. The R&Bs came bouncing back but couldn’t force their way over – instead, in the ninth minute of injury time, a losing bonus point was snatched from Wellington’s hands when St. Austell scored their last unconverted try to make the final score 24-12.

Despite the loss there were lots of positives that came out of the game for The R&Bs.

The desire to pick up their efforts and drag themselves back into the game after half-time was plain to see, and coming away with a losing bonus point would have been just rewards for these efforts.

Vinny Gordan had a good game playing at outside centre for the first time this season whilst flanker Liam Phillips had another fine game and prop Jack Richards showed up well throughout.

This Saturday, local rivals Tiverton visit The Athletic Ground.

Squad: J.Richards, J.Dyke, O.Price, R.Walker, C.Kitto, D.Lee, L.Phillips, W.Hinchcliffe, T.Jenkinson, P.Jarman(c), G.Hodgson, V.Gordon, R.Hooper, N.Pitman, A.Davey, S.Kiddle, J.Hancock, C.Batts

It was a tough day for the 2nd XV, who went down heavily losing 71-0 away at Old Sulians.

Due to very late withdrawals the team travelled with only 13 players, all of whom put in a brilliant effort and left the field with heads held high at the end of the game.