SHAUN Bedford-Smith felt the Plymouth Combination’s first away match in years was a success, despite their defeat to a strong Torbay Sharks side.

The Combination representative side lost 22-0 at Newton Abbot, but for much of the match the young Plymouth team more than match their opponents.

“It was a good game,” said Bedford-Smith, who helps coach the side. “We did really well. We held them for a long time – it was just the last 20 minutes they got on top.

“It was 0-0 at half-time and we missed three penalties, so we could have been 9-0 up. We definitely had the better of the first half.

“They had a big experienced pack and it showed in that last 20 minutes.

“We had quite a young side out and they had lads from Newton Abbot and Brixham and their experience and fitness told. Their pack was well drilled as well as being big. Three of their tries came from them kicking to the corner and driving us over. They only scored one try out wide. It was just their pack power that was the difference.

“They said afterwards that the score did not reflect the game.

“Probably half our side will be playing in Devon Two next year. We only had one Devonport Service player, although we had some players who will be Cornwall/Devon League next season.

“Most of our team were also under-25 and what was really pleasing was how many supporters we had up there.”

Bedford-Smith is hoping to keep the momentum of the Plymouth Combination side going.

It was the second year running they had played the Torbay Sharks – a representative team made up of players from the south Devon area. Next season they hope to play a three-way fixture with them and the Cornwall Clubs’ XV.

“They (Torbay) are looking to get a tournament with us and the Cornwall Clubs’ team maybe at somewhere like Bodmin,” said Bedford-Smith.

“I would also like to get a pre-season game maybe before teams start playing pre-season matches.

“It is hard to do representative games during the season but we try to get one pre-season and one at the end of the season.”