IVYBRIDGE claimed their biggest National Three South West win to date with a stunning 38-0 home success over promotion-chasing Lydney.

The Forest of Dean side had started the day in third place behind Barnstaple and Exmouth, but they had no response to a determined Ivybridge team, who ran six unanswered tries.

After three narrow defeats, the victory was a massive boost for 10^th-placed Ivybridge, who were coming under pressure from the teams below them.

However, now they are 10 points clear of the relegation zone with two games in hand.

“I am really chuffed for the lads,” said player-coach Lewis Paterson.

“All their hard work paid off. The boys deserved that win. It has been a long time in the making.

“We have not won like that since we were in South West One.

“It is such a massive win. It was a good weekend as our second team beat OPMs 92-0.”

Paterson, who scored two of Ivybridge’s tries, added: “We’d had a tough run of fixtures, but Saturday was one of those days were everything fell for us. However, it was all down to preparation from Thursday training right through to the game.

“Everyone was switched on and we came out of the blocks really well. Those first 20 minutes set the tone and we kept it going.

“To nil a side like Lydney, who are fighting for one of the top sports, and put nearly 40 points on them was massive.”

As well as Paterson, Jay Geraty, Jordan Anderton, Ben Watts and Billy Pinkus also crossed for tries, with Pinkus kicking four conversions.

Next Saturday, Ivybridge face a trip to second-placed Exmouth, who they will also meet five days later in the Devon Cup semi-final at Cross-in-Hand.

WESTERN COUNTIES WEST

SALTASH dropped to the foot of the table after suffering a disappointing 22-13 home defeat to fellow strugglers Crediton.

Without a win since October, Saltash’s hopes of staying in Western Counties West for a second season appear extremely slim.

Crediton’s strong pack won them the match in the second half at Moorlands Lane.

The home side led 13-10 at the break with wing Ryan Cruickshanks scoring a try for Saltash and Todd Crofts adding the conversion and two penalties.

Josh and Mark Lee accounted for Crediton’s points in the opening 40 minutes.

After the break, Josh Lee scored a second try for the visitors, which his brother, Mark, converted, before number eight Mark Nott sealed the win for Crediton with an unconverted try.

Devonport Services also suffered a disappointing home defeat when they went down 28-24 to Penryn, who had started the day bottom.

Services began the game brilliantly and were 14-0 up after less than 15 minutes thanks to tries by lock Andy Pond and centre Alex Percival, but suddenly the momentum shifted and the Cornish visitors scored four unanswered scores.

The home side did come back towards the end of the match, with forward Sam Bennett and former Launceston winger Eddie McGingley crossing but it was not enough to snatch them the victory and prevent Penryn completing the double over them.

CORNWALL/DEVON LEAGUE

TAVISTOCK have boosted their chances of staying in the Cornwall/Devon League by beating fellow strugglers Exeter Saracens 31-10 away.

The win has lifted Tavvy out of the bottom two and they are now level on points with 11-placed Honiton with a game in hand.

It was Tavistock’s first win since beating Exeter Saracens at home in November.

Luke Northmore was the star of the show for them, scoring four of their five tries, with Ben Hadfield adding their other touchdown.

Sixth-placed Plymouth Argaum also returned to winning ways in the division with a hard-earned 12-9 victory at Bodmin.

Argaum had suffered two defeats and a draw in their last three matches against high-flying Bude, St Ives and Falmouth.

Jake Turfrey got Argaum on the board with a try and a conversion in the first half to give them a 7-6 lead. After the break Kai Bloomfield got the decisive score for the visitors, who had lost 12-8 to Bodmin at Bickleigh Down earlier in the season.

Plymstock Albion Oaks made it a hat-trick of wins for Combination sides in the Cornwall/Devon League by beating Falmouth 27-0 at Horsham Playing Fields to leap above their Cornish opponents into fourth place in the table.

DEVON ONE

TAMAR Saracens claimed a club record 113-0 victory over bottom side St Columba & Torpoint on Saturday to push their promotion claims in Devon One.

Although Saracens stay in fourth spot they now know, with games in hand, the title is up for grabs after leaders Wessex were beaten 17-8 away at North Tawton.

Saracens are now just five points behind Wessex with a game in hand and with them still to visit Ernesettle.

“The league has really opened up,” said Saracens’ coach Stuart Busfield. “Wessex got beat so it is literally in our own hands now. We can finish top if we win all our games.”

On Saturday’s record win, Busfield said: “The guys played particularly well. The weather was dry and the pitch firm and the boys just opened up.

“I did feel for Torpoint a bit because they just caught us on a really good day.

“But, fair play to them, they tackled their hearts out and the result was not through want of trying.

“They (St Columba) were also very strong in the scrum, but our backs were just something else on the day.”

Joe Wyatt and Sam Parker both got four tries apiece, with Jamie Lavill claiming a hat-trick.

Saracens’ other tries came from Aaron Webb, Scott Sheldon, Mark Rennie, Jason Stead, Mark Cioffi, Ryan Deacon, Dan Best and Jack Martin.

Meanwhile, OPMs remain in the relegation zone after suffering a frustrating 10-8 home defeat to in-form Totnes, who have now won four out of five of their last matches.

It was the second time in six weeks Totnes had beaten OPMs by just one scoring, having controversially triumphed 10-3 at their place at the end of January.

Matt Thompson scored OPMs’ only try of the game on Saturday.

With just four games to go, South Molton are the only team OPMs can realistically catch to avoid relegation, however, they are two points behind them having played two more games.

OPMs do still have them and St Columba to play, but also matches against North Tawton and leaders Wessex.

DEVON TWO

THIRD-placed Old Techs kept the pressure on leaders Ilfracombe and second-placed Torrington with a hard-earned 14-0 home win over Salcombe.

However, missing out on a bonus point could be crucial for Old Techs, who now find themselves six points behind Torrington and 10 behind Ilfracombe.

Techs, though, still have both those sides to meet and the top two play each other next week, which could open the door for the Weston Mill outfit.

Three penalties from Billy Evans and a try by Luke Honeychurch accounted for Old Techs’ scores.

DHSOB picked up two bonus points in a 26-20 home defeat to Dartmouth but they will be feeling they should have had a full five.

The Old Boys were unable to convert any of their tries and crucially gave their visitors some kickable penalties that won them the match.

Meanwhile, winless Plympton Victoria made promotion-chasing Torrington work hard before losing 40-6 at Marsh Mills.