Chew fall just short against Weston in Somerset Cup final

CHEW Valley’s 2nd XV just failed to make it a trophy double for the club as they were edged out 36-33 by Weston United in the Somerset Cup final at North Petherton.

While Chew Valley’s 1st XV were winning the Bristol Combination Cup for the first time by beating Cleve 70-16, their second string were up against a Weston side bolstered by a number of those who had featured in the latter stages of the club’s South West One campaign.

Weston No 8 Ash Russell began the scoring with a fifth-minute try, converted by fly-half Archie Tilsley. However, a period of pressure from Chew ended with the ball being moved wide for wing Steve Bartlett to score a try in the corner. Soon after, fellow wing Sam Locke showed good strength to score a try, which was converted by Olly Lamb .

Full-back Chris Young crossed for Weston’s second try, converted by Tilsley, as United regained the lead at 14-12. Tilsley kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to five points. However, with seconds left on tne clock in the first half, a series of quick penalties led to Locke scoring his second try of the game. Lamb added the extras to give Chew a 19-17 half-time lead.

Early second-half pressure from Weston and problems at the scrum led to a penalty try on 45 minutes and a yellow card for prop Alfi Norbery.

A penalty to the corner with 28 minutes to go, and a yellow card for Monk, put Chew under great pressure and Weston wing Joe Burgess went in at the corner to make it 29-19. Young extended the lead with a converted try on 69 minutes, before Chew hit back with two converted tries from Sol Thompson and Lee Wedlake.