PLYMSTOCK Albion Oaks II won the Pedrick Cup at the Rectory on Wednesday night, but their opponents Plympton Victoria earned plenty of plaudits for their efforts in a hard-fought final.
Oaks II eventually won 33-9, but with only 10 minutes of normal time to go there was only four points in the game and two injury-time tries by Plymstock made their win look far easier than it actually was.
The first Plymouth Combination cup final for three years turned out to be a good contest and both teams produced some exciting rugby.
Oaks II took the lead in the 10th minute with a try from lock Simon Light from a catch-and-drive move.
Plym Vic missed a penalty on 15 minutes but three minutes they did cut the gap with a successful kick from Jordan Blair.
Oaks had a strong second team out, which included a number of players who have featured at a higher level and some promising youngsters.
One of their players with first team experience, Oli Whitefield extended their lead on 32 minutes with a good try that he helped start. That try put Oaks 10-3 in front at half-time.
Veteran Paul Ansell, who said after the game that he would be retiring, extended Oaks lead to 13-3 with a penalty four minutes after half-time.
But Plym Vic then came agonisingly close to scoring a try a minute later. Oaks did well to keep them out but they did eventually give away a penalty that Chris Barrett kicked.
The speedy Whitfield came close with a break and kick through on 57 minutes but then Plym Vic produced some really good play to counterattack and after pressure eventually they got another penalty that Barrett kicked to cut the gap to just four points.
But with 10 minutes of normal time to go, Oak crucially scored a third try from a catch-and-drive move, which Ansell converted.
And with 80 minutes on the clock, Oaks got a penalty that Ansell kicked thinking it was the last play.
However, the referee decided there was 10 minutes of injury-time to add and Dion Todd and Nathan Akers added late tries for Oaks for a flattering scoreline.
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