Frome hold on to reach next round

With the league season over, all sights were on the Papa Johns Community Cup, with Frome travelling to Clevedon for the first round of the Counties 1 South Plate looking to finish the season in style.

Frome started brightly with the back three of Simon Finch, Sam Cassidy and Henry Bull using their pace to create opportunities.

Frome thought they had opened the scoring when winger Finch went over but were called back for a forward pass. Shortly after, a 50 metre break by returning hooker John Benstead opened up the defence but he was tackled just short of the line.

The first points came when after a midfield scrum, the ball was worked out to fullback Bull, who cut through the defence to score an unconverted try.

The home side came back into the game with the their big ball carriers running hard at the Frome defence, however some great tackling lead by captain Geoff Taylor and No.8 Alex Mallon kept them at bay.

An indiscretion in front of the posts allowed the home flyhalf to reduce the deficit.

Frome then put together a period of pressure and were rewarded with a penalty converted by Bull.

The Frome backs, orchestrated by halfbacks Billy James and Simon Westlake, continued to threaten and they scored again when Bull evaded a couple of would-be tacklers to touch down to give Frome a 13-3 half time lead.

The home side started the second half strongly and despite more heroic defence were able to fashion a converted try to cut the deficit.

The introduction of replacements Zach Bartlett at scrumhalf and Ali Frost at centre gave Frome added impetus and they increased their lead through another Bull penalty shortly after.

Frome continued to press with replacement front rowers Phil Clarke and Gordon Grierson both featuring in attack and defence.

However the next score came when flyhalf Westlake, through an audacious dummy, ghosted his way through and touched down to give Frome a 21-10 lead.

The seasiders got back into the game when a ball dropped in midfield was hacked forward and the home centre followed up for a converted try.

The final 10 mins were played out with the home side pressing for a score to snatch the win but the

Frome defence held out to secure the win and a home tie against Paignton next week in the last 16 of the competition.

Player of the Match was awarded to flyhalf Simon Westlake.

Trevor Osborne

Pic: Katie White Frome U15s (scoring above) hit the road to face Warminster in a friendly at Folly Lane. The game started with great intensity in the sunshine with great running rugby from both sides. It was an equally fought contest with the visitors working tirelessly throughout and leading 10-12 with time running out. But a last minute Warminster try gave the home side victory. Player of the match was Dillon Castle. The Parents’ Player of the Match was Alexander Harris.