Penalty decision costs Weymouth (From Dorset Echo)

Penalty decision costs Weymouth

8:30pm Monday 25th February 2013 in Sport By David Williams, Sports Reporter

Supermarine 26 Weymouth 24

A CONTENTIOUS penalty try 10 minutes from time saw Weymouth come unstuck at bottom side Supermarine, a team they had thrashed 76-0 earlier in the season.

The hosts’ win was only their second in Southern Counties South this term and they managed it despite being outscored by four tries to two.

But it was the late award of a penalty try that ultimately won it for Supermarine and it was a decision that left Weymouth coach Paul Harding scratching his head.

“I’m a bit disappointed,” he said. “The game turned on a controversial penalty try which gave them the lead at 26-24 and they hung on.

“Even people from Supermarine came up to us at the end and said it was a dubious decision.

“They were putting pressure on our try line about five or six metres out, the ball carrier went to ground and the referee penalised our player for going into the ruck from the side.

“There was no certainty that a try was going to be scored and I’ve never seen anything like that before.

“We had perhaps given away one penalty before that but it wasn’t a catalogue of penalties.

“On the day a draw would have been a fair result but we got two points out of the game which is positive considering we haven’t done well away from home this season. So at least we got something out of it and scored four tries to their two but it was definitely one we could have won.

“Being where they are in the table I felt their desire to win was greater and they fought tooth and nail to edge it.”

Harding wasn’t too downbeat as his side picked up two bonus points but knows it could have been a lot better had Will Quick not suffered a recurrence of a quad muscle injury after 15 minutes.

The winger aggravated the problem in the act of scoring his side’s second try and will definitely miss Saturday’s trip to Walcot.

Supermarine had taken the lead with a penalty before Craig Barter darted down the blindside to touch down for the visitors.

The hosts then nudged ahead again before Quick raced in, and when Joe Gibson crossed it was Weymouth who were in the ascendancy – prop Tim Comben and skipper Julian Quick caught the eye in particular.

But Supermarine hit back after the restart courtesy of a penalty and converted try only for Nick Sheppard to put Weymouth 24-19 up thanks to a try which he also converted.

The Blues could not extend their lead and after the referee intervened to the consternation of the Weymouth side the visitors were unable to recover.