WEYMOUTH 57 CORSHAM 14

MONMOUTH Avenue witnessed a double hat-trick as Weymouth pulled off an emphatic victory over Corsham in the last four of the Dorset & Wilts Intermediate Cup.

Not only did Will Quick lead the way with a trio of tries but the result also ensured the hosts a place in their third cup final in as many years to the delight of head coach Paul Harding.

The Weymouth chief told Echosport: “I was absolutely delighted.

“I think they had some injury problems to be fair but sometimes that is the advantage of having a home draw.

“I know it’s difficult as we have been in that same situation but on the day we played what was in front of us and dominated for all but 10 to 15 minutes.

“We started strong from the first whistle, our scrummage caused them problems all afternoon and our backs were dangerous throughout.

“In fact had we been more clinical in the first 15 minutes we could have really stamped our authority down early.

“We had a strong side out and it was a good performance – they all played really well.”

Nick Sheppard was once again outstanding with the boot and he opened the scoring after just 10 minutes with a penalty.

Will Quick then ran in the first try before flanker Harry Charles added the second moments later by out-running the Corsham backs and eventually powering over.

The visitors just had no answer to the home side by this point and when Joel Wilson wriggled through on the half-hour to touch down once more the writing was already on the wall.

Weymouth just looked too strong and just before half-time they crossed for a fourth time when Will Quick showed his opponents a clean pair of heels to help extend the lead to 29-0.

The hosts could have easily taken their foot off the gas in the second period but instead they went for the jugular with Wilson throwing a trademark sidestep to complete his brace, and Will Quick chalking up his hat-trick following a jinking run.

With the result in the bag Harding then decided to deploy all his replacements and although the reshuffle allowed Corsham to reply with two converted scores, Weymouth still went on to finish strong.

Gareth Iles touched down for the seventh time for the hosts before Sheppard completed the scoring with a try of his own, which saw him end the game with an individual tally of 22 points, including seven conversions.

Harding added: “It was a bit of a trouncing in the end but it was a semi-final and I was just delighted for the players.

“They have worked so hard and to reach our third final in a row is a tremendous achievement and this time it is the Intermediate Cup rather than the Senior Vase.

“We will meet Wimborne in the final after they beat Devizes 42-20. They are going really well at the moment and it is going to be a very tough game.

“They lost their first two games of the season but they have not lost since so we will go into it as massive underdogs but it is an occasion we will look forward to.”

Although heralding the victory as a fantastic team performance, Harding did give out some individual praise too. He concluded: “There were a lot of great individual performances out there.

“Nick was once again extremely consistent with the boot and I thought Will had his best game of the season so far.

“Mike Robinson also had his first game at full-back and did very well, despite having to come off after half an hour, and I was also impressed again with Harry and Joel.

“Finally, I would like to give a special word to the skipper Julian Quick, who continues to set a great example in the way he leads the team both on and off the pitch.”

The final is scheduled to take place on December 1 but a venue is still to be decided.

Weymouth: Comben, Borrington, Vallance, J Quick, Westwood, Hamlin, Morris, Charles, Barter, Sheppard, W Quick, Iles, Wilson, Llewendon, Robinson. Replacements: Oakley, Berry, Kimble-Kinsella, Allen, Eckersley, Mason.