Published: Monday, 9th November, 2009 11:00am

Rob turns from villain to hero

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Gensians 40, Weston-super-Mare 22

ROB STAPLEY was the hero and the villain as Gensians got their league campaign back on track with a 40-22 win over Weston-super-Mare last Saturday.

He was sin-binned for a blatant offside after 28 minutes, but returned to score a try either side of half-time to inspire the Old Bath Road side to a bonus-point victory.

Number eight Stapley admitted: "That yellow card spurred me on to do something. I realised I had to make up for it."

He pinpointed reasons for the inconsistent form of Gensians, who handed a debut to 17-year-old replacement Harry Stapleton.

"We're a young side and inclined to play as individuals," he said. "I'm as guilty as anyone. Once we become more of a team we'll progress. At present we take two steps forward and one back.

"As well as a lot of new players, we've had injuries. It's a case of settling down."

Stapley was voted man of the match but tight head James Baker, excellent in the scrum and loose play, also showed up well.

Gensians' victory was built on their best set piece performance of the season, however chances were wasted. At least half-a-dozen tries were squandered through sloppy final passes.

After a James Mackay penalty put Weston ahead in the sixth minute, Gensians spent long spells pinned in their own territory.

Eventually good mauling - one of their little used strengths - put them on the visitors' line after 25 minutes and scrum half Joe Raitt nipped over for his first league try for the club, Spike Chandler adding the extras.

Even down to 14 men with Stapley's dismissal, Gensians kept their line intact until he returned to force his way over and give his side a 14-3 interval lead.

Eight minutes into the second half, the tough Stapley shrugged off tackles for his second touchdown which heralded a burst of points with Warren Abrahams and Simon Swadling also crossing for a seemingly unassailable 33-3 advantage after 55 minutes.

A loss of concentration let George Wright and Dan Fry, twice, collect three breakaway touchdowns for Weston in a quarter of an hour.

However Gensians had the last word with an Abrahams try plus Chandler's fifth conversion.

Gensians side: Abrahams; Clements, Reynolds, Swadling, Flynn (Stapleton); Chandler, Raitt; Clare (Saunders), Dewland, Baker, Randall, Root (C Davies), G Davies, Hopkins, Stapley.

* JAKE Holt, Tom Dalton, Jake Wareham, Sam Wild, Kieran Leicester, George Dickinson and Rory Sharp all scorer tries as Gensians under-15s won 44-5 at Tring.

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