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No good at the sea-side Weston Super Mare 41 pts v Basingstoke 29 pts at Weston Dec 10th 2005 Report from Martin Humberstone Check out the report from Weston at the bottom....same game? In a game where 'Stoke were never in front but rarely deserved to be behind, it was clear from the start that the referee would have a huge part to play in this must win game for 'Stoke. The referee had an immediate impact with just ten seconds gone producing a yellow card to player coach Jim Dixon. As an affect of the penalty Weston-Super-Mare kicked down field and scored a push over try after just five minutes. The try was converted and Weston took a 7 point lead. Within two minutes ill discipline again let 'Stoke down and Weston extended their lead to 10-0. Just five minutes after Weston's danger man, number 13 T.J carved the 'Stoke defence apart and added a further five points, the conversion was added and 'Stoke saw themselves staring down the barrel of a real thumping. With the addition of previously sin binned Dixon 'Stoke raised their game and forced errors from their Bristol opponents and received a penalty to earn their first points of the game through fly half Simon Humberstone. On 25 minutes 'Stoke continued their comeback with a converted try through number 8 Jim Dixon, from a positive build up and a good solid scrum allowing Dixon to pick and crash over from five metres. Unfortunately 'Stokes comeback could not go all the way and on half an hour Weston scored another try through the inside centre to take a 12 point lead, the conversion was added and the lead was extended to 14. Weston then had a player of their own sent to the bin and Stoke took advantage when Captain Appleby scored a try down the blindside 37. Humberstone's conversion was missed and 'Stoke remained 9 points behind. From the restart 'Stoke ran the ball straight back to the Weston 22 and a well rehearsed backs move saw Dave Lambert score under the posts, Humberstone added the conversion to take the score to 24-22. This was a monumental effort from the Stoke team to claw their way back after the poor opening and leave the pitch at the interval only the 2 points in arrears. Just as 'Stoke had found their way back into the game yet more ill discipline from the 'Stoke side allowed Weston some breathing space from a penalty through in form fly half Jason Dick on 45. The score was to remain 27-22 until 10 minutes from time. Both teams were trying to play attractive rugby but either mistakes or good defence meant that neither side were able to take control. On 65 minutes both side lost a prop when the Weston player dropped his knees on Williams which led to a reaction from Townsend. Both went to the bin and it was Stoke that seemed to suffer more than the home side. A rushed clearance kick from Stoke on 71 gave Weston a chance to counter attack; they took their chance and scored down the blind side for further 7 points. Weston then scored a killer try through replacement Ricky Jones to take the score to 41-22. 'Stoke did get a complementary try from Dave Lambert, converted by Humberstone to leave the score at Weston 41-29 Basingstoke. Stoke showed what they are capable of for 60 minutes of the game but also learnt that at this level you can't give a side a 17 point lead or concede 14 points in the last 10 minutes of the match. Dixon added afterwards "There was a lot of endeavour out on the pitch to-day but the 1st ten minutes and the last ten cost us. When we played to our game plan we were effective and dangerous and showed why we are in the top section of the league. I am proud of the players that came in and those who were playing out of position and look forward to our return game" Team: O Rogers, D Lambert, S Buckland, G Jones, D Lillywhite (C Saunders), S Humberstone, J Fish, S Murphy, M Bushnell, K Townsend, R Sterling, A Hopkins (S Crew), C Williams, S Appleby, J Dixon
Report from Weston Weston extended their unbeaten League run to eight in negotiating this potential “banana skin” against a side which has often presented problems, and had narrowly won on their last visit to the Recreation Ground. The home side got off to the best possible start. Basingstoke kicked off…Denbee soared to take the catch and Dixon, the visitors Player Coach, clumsily and stupidly took him cleanly out of the air. Thirty seconds gone…Yellow card rightfully proffered...Basingstoke down to 14 men. From the resultant penalty and line out, the Weston pack heaved the opposition at a veritable rate of knots some 25 metres for Derrick to put the brakes on long enough to touch down for a try in his first minute of Weston rugby. Dick, who went on to complete over 200 points for the season, converted and added a penalty 10 minutes later. The lead was extended further when T.J. Madamombe scored one of his trademark specials. Receiving the ball on the WSM 10 metre line, he effortlessly broke through the midfield defence, swerved around the cover and ran over the unfortunate full back for another seven points….17-0 after 15 minutes. Weston then took their foot off the pedal and inexplicably let their visitors back into the game. Humberstone kicked a penalty, missed one, and converted a short range try from Dixon after the home side had needlessly conceded a five metre scrum….17-10. Normal service was resumed after half an hour when Dick slipped a delightful inside pass to T.J. who was unstoppable from ten yards…..24-10. Basingstoke creditably responded again. Their hitherto dormant forwards started to win loose ball…a task made easier as Weston had second row Milenkovic sent to the sin bin for a technical offence…. and two close range tries came in quick succession from skipper Appleby, a regular try poacher, and Lambert, one of which was converted…24-22 and Weston indebted to Humberstone for some indifferent place kicking which could have edged his side to an improbable half time lead. The second half was even and exciting. Weston brought on Jones for his debut, Richards replaced Merwood on the back row, and Burge replaced Roskruge. Dick kicked a penalty after 15 mins…27-22. Both sides lost players. Williams followed up his own kick ahead “over robustly” and immediately saw yellow, as did visiting prop Townsend, who turned nightclub “bouncer” and paid the price for retaliation! This seemed to upset the visitors more than Weston, who started to play with freedom. Russell galloped 20 yds up the short side and freed the underutilised Sprague who shot in untouched from thirty yards for his seventh of the season.Dick converted. 34-22..and two minutes later, the same player spotted Burge loitering unaccompanied on the right wing and his pinpoint kick found the hooker for a fifth try, excellently converted from the touchline….41-22. The visitors had the last word in injury time when they worked an overlap for Lambert to score his second….Final score 41-29. |