CORSHAM 10 WEYMOUTH 14

WEYMOUTH have all but guaranteed their survival in Southern Counties South following a fantastic victory at Corsham.

Paul Harding’s men went into the game without several key players but those that remained shrugged off the absences by producing one of their most polished performances of the season.

The condition of the pitch, following the recent adverse weather, was always going to play a big part but Weymouth’s handling was impeccable throughout as they hit back after conceding an early try to finally put an end to a six-game losing streak.

Harding told Echosport: “It was a massive result and a fantastic effort from the whole team.

“We went up there with a reasonable side, despite all the players we had missing, and the performance we put in on an awful pitch was excellent.

“You could count the mistakes we made on the fingers of one hand and the way we looked after the ball was really impressive.

“Everyone put their bodies on the line again and worked hard but what pleased me the most was the technical side of it.

“The skills they displayed in contact were fantastic and afterwards I was delighted for every single one of them.”

It also appears the Dorset Echo may have played a little part in the success.

Harding went on to add: “A few of the lads thought the preview article that went in last Friday was a bit negative as they felt they had played well the previous week.

“However, with recent results and the injuries we have had, I still thought it was fair. In fact, I told the lads beforehand if they had a problem with it, why don’t they go out and prove they are better than that, and that is exactly what they did.

“We have had to do a lot of travelling in the second half of the season and it has been tough, but the spirit has always been there and I am sure this win will now make a huge difference.

“I always thought we were safe anyway but this result pretty much guarantees it and now we can look forward to some big games coming up.”

Weymouth now sit eighth in the table and Harding reckons that is a fair reflection of their efforts so far in what is their first season at this level.

He went on to say: “We have been competitive against the sides around us and the ones below, but we are still a little way off some of the teams in the top half.

“However, we can already take a lot from this season and the experience is only going to make us stronger.

“This was a really positive result and with the seconds also beating Fordingbridge Seconds 29-17 in Dorset & Wilts Two South it was a fantastic day for the club.”

Corsham took the lead almost straight from kick-off when some good phases of play saw the ball reach their fly-half who led a charge down the pitch for an early try.

Many teams would have struggled to hit back from that but Weymouth reacted superbly and by half-time boasted a 9-5 lead thanks to three well-taken penalties.

The visitors continued the pressure in the second half and although the conditions made fast, running rugby almost impossible, their methodical approach eventually paid dividends with Tom Smethurst going over with 20 minutes to go.

To their credit, Corsham then replied with another unconverted try but this was Weymouth’s day and they saw out the remaining time with huge confidence.

Harding said: “James Borrington’s throw-ins from the lineouts were absolutely superb and the only one we lost the whole game was the last one which led to their second try.

“That made it 14-10 but once again the lads looked after the ball superbly after that to eventually see the game out and hand them the win their efforts deserved.”

Weymouth: Puroku, Borrington, Vallance, Smethurst, Eckersley, J Quick, Hamlin, Morris, Berry, Shepherd, Gibson, Hoxey, Haynes, W Quick, Lewendon. Replacements: Ford, Carter.