TAMAR Saracens coach Stuart Busfield says the club is ‘buzzing’ after claiming the Devon One title on Saturday with a 27-12 win at South Molton.
The bonus point victory means Sarries will be playing in the Cornwall/Devon League next season for the first time in their history.
“It is amazing,” said Busfield. “We had a few drinks after the game but we didn’t go crazy as we are saving ourselves for next week.
“I was absolutely buzzing with the way we played on Saturday. The game was so physical. Three people were knocked unconscious it was that physical.
“But in the second half our strength of depth off the bench told. We were able to bring extra power of the bench.
“Our two second half tries, especially the final one by Aaron Webb, were top drawer.”
Rob Hall and Sam Parker scored first half tries for the visitors before Ryan Dingle and Webb crossed in the second period.
Saracens will end their league campaign next weekend when they host North Tawton at home.
NATIONAL THREE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE moved up to eighth in the National Three South West table with a 30-10 victory at bottom club Chippenham.
The win was their second in a row and wiped away some of the memories of their home defeat at the hands of Chippenham in December.
Centre Harrison Legge took his chance in the first team with two tries on Saturday, with player-coach Gareth Elliot and fellow forward Alex Hall also touching down.
Ivybridge will be hoping to make it three wins on the spin next Saturday when they host fourth-from-bottom Old Centralians, who are currently six points ahead of relegation-threatened Newton Abbot.
WESTERN COUNTIES WEST & CORNWALL/DEVON LEAGUE
SALTASH could be relegated next week if they fail to beat Tiverton at home after losing 55-24 to third-placed Exeter University of Saturday.
The Ashes, fresh from their first win since October last weekend, played really well in the first half and were only 22-17 down at the break having scored two converted and a penalty, but the students pulled away after the interval.
Ben Hocking, Sean Crawford and Simon Nance scored tries for the Ashes.
Devonport Services battle hard at leaders Kingsbridge but were beaten 26-3 after a late rally by the home side.
The visitors kept their hosts at bay for a large part of the match and were only 7-3 behind going into the final 20 minutes, before Kingsbridge turned on the gas to score three late tries.
Matt Anstis scored Services’ only points on the day.
It was second time in two games against Kingsbridge that Services had failed to score a try the title-chasers. At the start of February at the Rectory they lost 29-0 at the Rectory.
In the Cornwall/Devon League, Plymstock Albion Oaks won an enthralling derby match with Argaum 22-17 at Bickleigh Down.
It was Oaks’ first win over Argaum in three attempts and moves them up to third in the table.
Argaum stay in seventh spot, but director of rugby Dave Sansom felt his team could easily have had four points on Saturday.
“We were the better side first half, but somehow went in at the break 13-10 down.
“We played quite well and I didn’t think we deserved to lose, but it was a good game.
“They did not get in our half that much in the first half but scored two tries.
“We then conceded another couple before coming back and then in the last 10-15 minutes they were hanging on.
“I thought we were better around the field and in the scrum, but they had us in the line-out. Like I said, it was a good game and there was nothing really in it.
“This year’s been good for us. We’ve used a lot of players and got a lot of experience. We can’t grumble with where we are in the table and I think we will finish the season with a few more wins.”
Adam Wood, Jake Turfrey and Nick Carter scored Argaum’s tries.
Meanwhile, Tavistock boosted their hopes of staying in the Cornwall/Devon League with a vital 13-11 home win over Honiton.
Although Tavistock remain in the bottom three they are now only four points off safety with three games to go.
Tavistock do have fellow struggles Hayle and Newquay to play so they could just pull off the great escape.
Luke Northmore and Adam Williams scored tries for Tavvy.