A SALTASH XV proved too strong for a St Boniface Old Boys side in their traditional Boxing Day encounter at Moorlands Lane.
The Ashes triumphed 45-17 in a good-spirited match played in sunny conditions in front of a large crowd.
Bonnies had a strong side out, but Saltash showed why they have only lost one league game in the last nine months.
St Boniface OBs got off to a swift start with a converted try after just six minutes following early pressure close to the Saltash line.
But the Ashes hit back with a try 10 minutes later from their skipper Jay Moriarty which was converted by Billy Dover. The balance of play gradually shifted to the host side and tries came from Lewis Woolaway (20 minutes) and Andrew Walsh (30 minutes) followed, although St Boniface kept plugging away and tested the Ashes defence up until half-time.
The second period started well for Saltash with Kristian Davis crossing after 42 minutes following some good handing with the extra points were also added.
St Boniface OBs then broke away and scored a try four minutes later to bring the score to 24-12.
Yet Saltash continued to dominate and further tries came from Davis and Jack Wickham and conversions from Jack Pritchard and Axel Nicks. St Boniface got a third try to reward their second half efforts and bring the final score to 45-17.
Meanwhile, Plymouth Argaum ran out 62-24 winners in their traditional social Boxing Day match with OPMs.
The game was played at King George V Playing Fields, with both sides including current, former and veteran players.
OPMs did have a few more veteran players than Argaum, who did pull away in the third quarter, but no-one was too bothered about the score in a festive fixture that goes back 90 years.
Elsewhere, Tavistock Locals drew 22-22 with Tavistock Legends at Sandy Park in front of a crowd of 200.
The ‘Locals’ went in front with a try by Toby Teague, who found himself in space down the right wing.
But the ‘Legends’ hit back quickly when some strong carries from Mark Wheatley and Pale Nonu created space for Tom Charlsworth to spot a gap down the middle and cross the whitewash and convert his own effort.
The Locals got themselves back in front with a converted try by James Lovering after good play by Ethan Lamerton.
The Legends scored a couple of quick tries after the interval courtesy Charlie Fethney and Angus Hogg.
However, the locals were not to be out undone and Conor Packwood was gifted a score.
The game continued to ebb and flow and the Legends did look to have won it when fly-half Seb Roberts spotted a gap around the fringes to cross the whitewash.
But with plenty of injury-time added, 18-year-old Callum Baker hit an excellent line and ran 30-metres to score a match-levelling try.
Plymstock Albion Oaks also get into the festive spirit this year with a President’s XV v DoR XV Boxing Day clash at Horsham Fields.
The DoR XV took the honours with stand-out performances from Tom Richards, Harvey Dunne, Olly Whitfield and Sini Manu.
It was the first time Oaks had held a Boxing Day social fixture and it proved a hit with hundreds of people turning up at the club to join in the fun.
Devonport Services were hosting a Reds v Blues match at the Rectory today.