Weston-super-Mare RFC 36-38 Thornbury: Regional 2

Thornbury attacked from the off and but for a couple of unlucky bounces after kicks from their fly half the left winger may well have been in.

Weston weathered the storm and from an excellent catch and drive the ball was recycled and fullback Ryan Watterston put left wing Hayden Main over for the opening try.

Thornbury hit back with an excellent try using their backs to full effect to go in under the posts for an easy conversion to put the visitors in front. They then scored again almost immediately when their left wing outpaced the covering defence to give them another easy conversion.

Weston then regrouped and a neat grubba to the corner by fly half George Nuttycombe gave the hosts a chance right on the visitors line but unfortunately for Weston the attack came to nothing.

Weston then got a free kick following a line out and scrum half Rowen Bird took a quick tap and fed Fatai Koloi who put lock Ashley Russell over. Nuttycombe added the extras.
On the stroke of half time Thornbury extended their lead with a pushover try from a scrum which was converted.

Weston looked out of sorts but started the second half on the attack but too many unforced errors stopped them from narrowing the deficit when in promising positions. However in the forty sixth minute Watterston took things into his own hands and a quick tap sent the galloping full back over near the sticks to give Nuttycombe a simple conversion.

Weston then took the lead when Watterston benefitted from a long pass by number eight Jay Davis following a battering run by Koloi. Nuttycombe expertly converting from the side line.
A great try saving tackle by Watterston then prevented the visitors from drawing level.

The excellent Davis was beginning to make some strong runs and the hosts were looking a different side from their first half wobbles but the visitors hung in and began to dominate possession. Weston's defence held until Thornburys left wing brushed off a couple of tackles to cross and level the score at twenty six apiece.

Davis finally produced a try his second half performance deserved when he broke blind from a scrum and after interplay with right wing Dom Marshall powered his way over to give the hosts the lead which Nuttycombe again converted.

Thornbury hit back immediately but missed the easy conversion to keep two points adrift.
An unexpected but outstanding drop goal by Nuttycombe put the hosts further ahead with a couple of minutes remaining.

With time rushing out the visitors kicked a hopeful ball high to the right and was gleefully collected by the right wing who equalised before the conversion was taken to give the visitors a two point lead.

Weston hammered the visitors line for the last couple of minutes but Thornbury defended heroically to hold out for victory.