Weston Super-Mare 0-3 Bristol Rovers
Pre-season, The Optima Stadium, Tuesday 7 July 2026
Bristol Rovers cruised to a 3-0 victory over Weston-super-Mare in their first pre-season fixture ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The first half was an open affair, but Rovers were the more clinical of the sides. Ellis Harrison was at the heart of both goals in the opening 45 minutes. His flicked header led to a mistake in the Seagulls' defence, letting Bobby Kamwa score from close range, before directing a cross towards Mess Rijks, who headed it in.
There was a full team change at half-time as Steve Evans looked to see all of his squad in action. Joe Quigley looked bright in the early stages of the half, flashing a shot across the goalkeeper from outside the box to win a corner.
Promise Omochere added Rovers' third and final goal of the game after a delightful cross from Isaac Hutchinson gave him the chance to nod home from close range. Both sides continued to look to create chances on a warm evening in Weston, but the Pirates' quality saw them come away with a comfortable victory.
An open start to the contest saw neither side take control in the early stages. Mees Rijks had the game's first opportunity as he saw an effort blocked from outside the box.
All of the Gas' new additions started the fixture, with two combining early on. Tom James got in behind the Weston defence and pulled a cross back towards fellow new signing Bobby Kamwa, but a heroic block from a Weston defender denied the winger.
Former Rovers player Liam Sercombe was then inches away from a stunning opener for the hosts, smashing the bar with a volley from distance, before Kamwa broke the deadlock. Brad Young's long kick was flicked forward by Harrison, with Kamwa making the most of a defensive mix-up to pass the ball into an open net.
The 26-year-old continued to look dangerous, taking on defenders for fun before whipping a curling effort across goal, forcing a save from Harris. Rovers' lead would be doubled before half-time by Rijks after Harrison drove the ball across, with the Dutch forward on hand to tap home.
Wholesale changes at the break saw a new Gas team in the second half. The first effort came through Quigley as he cut inside and forced a fantastic save from the Weston shot-stopper.
There were fewer chances after the restart, but the Pirates added a third goal to complete the scoring. Hutchinson drifted inside from the right with possession and waited until the right moment before lifting a cross towards Omochere, who flicked in his header.
Omochere nearly got himself a second and Rovers' fourth as Jack Sparkes drove down the left wing and pulled a cross back to the forward, who could only redirect the ball past the post.
Hutchinson and Quigley both had opportunities to open their accounts for the campaign but did not convert, with the Pirates ultimately winning their first pre-season fixture 3-0.
Bristol Rovers first half XI: Young, James, Balmer, Kamwa, Aitchison, Purrington, Kelly, Rijks, Harrison, Smallwood, Leigh
Bristol Rovers second half XI: Ward, Sparkes, Kilgour, Mola, Quigley, De Havilland, Omochere, Southam-Hales (Forde 76), Harbottle, Cavegn, Hutchinson
Goals: Kamwa, Rijks, Omochere
Weston-super-Mare first half XI: Harris, Smith, Avery, Britton, Hulbert, Dawes, Hewlett, Taylor, Martin, Sercombe, Trialist A
Weston-super-Mare second half XI: Harris, Trialist B, Lewis, Coulson, Pope, Ash, Hicks, Chamberlain, Trialist C, Robesten, Trialist D
Referee: Ross Martin
Attendance: 1,189
RAYNOR: IT WAS A GREAT FIRST WORKOUT FOR US
Rovers' win over the Seagulls was their first of six pre-season fixtures before they travel over for a camp in Scotland ahead of the new campaign.
Weston had plenty of confidence after a successful 2025/26 season, finishing sixth in the National League North and reaching the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup and proved to be a good test for Rovers. Assistant Manager Raynor was pleased with the Gas' display and insisted the players are being put through their paces in what is a busy schedule.
"It was a great workout. That's what pre-season's all about: good opposition, good pitch, good surface to play on. The guys adapted a great approach to the game. Sometimes they can get sloppy. I think we were a little bit sloppy in the first ten minutes of both halves, particularly. But once we got into our rhythm and got a grip of the game, I thought we got out of it what we needed to get out of it.
"We've got good performance in. Hopefully, touch wood, no injuries. Obviously, there'll be a few tired legs in there for the first run out. But no, I think it was a really, really good workout against a decent team. You know, Weston, a decent team had a good season last season. So, it was a great first workout for us.
"He [Bobby] is direct, he's pacey, he creates chances, and he takes chances. He had a really good season for Newport in a struggling team, and they were really thankful for him at the end of the season. We were aware of him for a long time.
"As I said, he was shining in the team but was struggling, but I'm delighted to get him, and he'll get better and better and better. The more work we can do on the training with him on the training ground, the better he'll get. He's a great lad, he's really receptive, and he will get bums off seats. He will excite people.
"It’s been tough for the guys. I'll be honest, even yesterday, we had the game today, the guys were working incredibly hard. We had an 11v11 yesterday, as well as some running. So, you know, the guys will be, they'll be tired, but that's what you've got to do in pre-season. It's about peaking on the 7th of August, and that's what we're aiming to do."
RIJKS: IT'S A GREAT START TO PRE-SEASON
After joining the Gas during the January transfer window, Rijks is now getting the chance to get a full pre-season under his belt in the blue-and-white quarters and has already got his season off and running in front of goal.
With half-time quickly approaching, Rijks doubled the Gas' advantage with a clever finish, getting away from his marker to get on the end of Harrison's cross before planting his downward header into the back of the net. The forward was delighted to get his first goal of the campaign and reflected on pre-season so far.
"I'm very happy," he said. "I think it's a very good start to pre-season. That [scoring] always feels good. Getting a goal in the first match of pre-season feels very good. It was a great cross [from Ellis], and yeah, I was happy to get the goal in.
"It [winning] gives a great feeling for the whole team, and gives some confidence, and I thought it was a great starter, to get some minutes in for everyone, so it was great.
"It's nice to be with the lads again, and the atmosphere in the team is just so good. To see everyone is really nice, and training has been very, very good, so it's great so far.
"The new lads have been great. I think they've been adapting great. I think the whole team has taken them in well. So, it's been great, great lads, very good guys, great personalities. So, very happy with them."
