Weston-Super-Mare 56 Penzance & Newlyn 33
Travelling to the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, following their 53-0 win at home to Cullompton the previous Saturday, for their first game on the road Penzance & Newlyn came up against a strong North Somerset side.

Celebrating their 150th anniversary, with a proud history and having been represented in the past by international players including England’s Peter Larter and Nigel Redman, Weston-super-Mare got off to a flying start at their Recreation Ground.

Three tries early in the game for ‘Weston’, including an opener for wing Hayden Main who went on to secure a hat-trick, was not the ideal start for the Pirates. Even at halftime it was not much better with a scoreline reading 35-7, but with an uplift in performance the second half was much improved, and a four-try bonus point was ultimately much deserved.

Playing at scrum half, the versatile Sam Cahill scored two tries in the match, besides slotting four conversions, and the Pirates other try-scorers were full-back Ben Wragg, centre Josh Semmens, and wing Jack Keogh.

Speaking after the game, Penzance & Newlyn‘s head coach Murray Westren said:

“Last week’s win against Cullompton was a good one to get under the belt, but we were also realistic to know that much tougher games lie ahead, as it quickly proved against a very able Weston outfit.

“It was important that we recovered from a poor start and ultimately showed some character, which we pleasingly did, and playing some very good rugby in the process scored five tries.”

Weston-super-Mare: 15 Alex Howman 14 Keanu Ballard 13 Cam Maslen 12 Marcus Nel 11 Hayden Main 10 Archie Tilsley 9 Ryan Watterston; 1 Charlie Brabham (captain) 2 Adam Fisher 3 Will Bamsey 4 Sam Light 5 Ashley Russell 6 Robson Bird 7 Jacob Cox 8 Jacob Simpson.

Replacements: Ross Chesher 17 Callum Bliss-Climo 18 George Nuttycombe.

Penzance & Newlyn: 15 Ben Wragg 14 Joey Norways 13 Josh Semmens 12 Rhys Brownfield 11 Jack Keogh 10 Oscar Marr (captain) 9 Sam Cahill; 1 Dec Prowse 2 Wes Eddy 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Sam Carroll 7 Jude Hardy 8 Archie Pilcher.

Replacements: 16 Dylan Arthur 17 Zak Chenoweth 18 Harris Eddy.

Man of the Match: Sam Carroll

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Next up for Penzance & Newlyn’s 1st XV is a Regional 2 Tribute SW league match at home to Wadebridge this coming Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.

Eighty years after playing a first ever game, a Past Players Reunion is also taking place in the clubhouse pre-match.

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(Congratulations to Penzance & Newlyn’s 2nd XV who, in their opening league on Saturday, won 36-17 away to Penryn seconds. It was a fine result as any Penryn side are difficult to beat on their home turf.)