WESTERN West leaders Plymstock Albion Oaks were beaten at home for the first time this season on Saturday as they lost 45-34 to in-form Tiverton at Horsham Fields.
Oaks were 27-13 up just after half-time, but then it all went wrong for them and Tiverton scored four unanswered tries in the space of 15 minutes, including two absolute gifts.
The hosts did come back and pull within one score with four minutes to go, but Tiverton scored with the last play of the game to wrap up the victory and deny Oaks an extra point.
Plymstock did pick up a try-scoring bonus point which moves them one clear of second-placed Kingsbridge, who they play next.
To cap off a frustrating afternoon for Oaks, they had number eight Pete Keanie red-carded at the end of the game
“It’s frustrating as we have been building and building,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson afterwards.
“We knew it was a big game and knew it was going to be physical. They did what we knew they were going to do, but we did match them – they just capitalised really well on our errors.”
He added: “I think we squandered more chances and when we squandered them they capitalised and then we did self-destruct at the end. We just needed to be a bit more disciplined.”
Oaks had four tries in the bag after just 42 minutes and did look dangerous when their backs got the ball.
“If we can punish a team so easily at this level, then we just have to work on that flip side when things don’t go our way, when we don’t get the rub of the green, give a few penalties away and put pressure on ourselves, that’s what’s what we have to learn.
“But every loss is a learning curve. The best thing about this team is we will learn from it and we will get better. After Tavistock we did and had a real good run.
“We’ve lost a game there against a good side. I think against any other team in the league we might have got away with it but you can’t do that with teams like Tiverton.
“With Kingsbridge next week we have to get it right real quick as they are going to be just as strong.
“We have gone top as we have got a point but we would have rather have had four points from that.
“We were frustrated at the end but that’s because we are a team that wants to win. We are very passionate about results and performance and you can’t coach that. When you have that fire and desire to really progress and go up that’s brilliant as you can’t coach that, but you can coach the other things. Hopefully, we will have a good bounce back.”
Saturday’s game was certainly a good one for a neutral to watch as it did have nearly everything – 12 tries, big momentum shifts, some fisticuffs and an exciting ending.
Oaks, playing down the hill first half, made a great start with a try on the right by full-back Alex Chapman after some good pressure from a tap penalty.
Tiverton, who arrived at Horsham Fields on the back of a four-game winning run, closed the gap with a penalty by full-back Jack Sampson.
Paterson then kicked a penalty of his own to make it 8-3 before he hit the post with another.
Tiverton had started to get some good territory and they pulled level in the 33rd minute when hooker Matt Elliott went over from a catch-and-drive move.
After a relatively steady start to the game, it really came to life in the final five minutes of the first half.
Oaks went back in front when they attacked again from a quick-tap penalty. Eventually Corey Jamieson broke and he drew in the last man before off-loading to Ben Turua to score in the left corner. Paterson converted to make it 15-8.
And, almost straight from the restart, Oaks added another try when Jamieson broke down the right wing and he manage to hold off a tackle to stretch out and touch-down in the corner and make it 20-8.
But in first-half injury-time, Tiverton pulled a try back when lock Blake Lugg held off a number of tackles to score a great try on the right and cut the gap to seven points at the break.
Oaks, though, went 14 points clear straight at the start of the second period when a Paterson kick caused problems in Tiverton’s defence and two players failed to gather which allowed Turua to pick up and swallow dive under the posts for his second try of the game.
Sampson kicked a penalty for Tiverton in the 51st minute before two tries in two minutes changed the match.
Visiting winger Ben Bingham pounced on a good kick down the left to pull Tiverton to within a score.
And straight from the restart Jonny Fairclough intercepted an Oaks pass in their own half and he fed George Whiting to run in and score a gift of a try. Sampson could not add the conversion so Tiverton trailed by a point.
Tiverton’s confidence appeared to visibly grow and they were finding gaps in Oaks’ defence. Bingham then had a try disallowed for a knock-on a couple of minutes later while a fight was going on at the other end of the field.
The visitors eventually did get another try when scrum-half Alex Curtis took a quick tap penalty and ran in behind the posts. Sampson added the extras to put Tiverton 33-27 in front.
That quickly became 40-27 when a terrible Oaks line-out on their own line went straight to Tiverton flanker Ben Vickery, who just had to fall over the line.
At that point the game looked over, but Oaks dug deep and the dangerous Jamieson scored on the left and Paterson converted to make it 40-34 with four minutes of normal time and injury-time to come.
Plymstock sensed a last-gasp win but they could not get in the right positions and deep in injury-time Curtis sealed the victory for Tiverton with a try in the left corner. There was a debate about whether he was pushed into touch or not before grounding the ball, but the referee awarded the try and also sent off Keanie.
Saturday was also a disappointing day for title-chasing Tamar Saracens in Counties Three Devon South & West as they lost 20-10 away to Paignton II.
Sarries were missing a host of players but agreed to Paignton’s request for an early kick-off and the visitors paid for a slow start.
They found themselves 20-0 down after 30 minutes before coming back in the second half with tries by Jacob Blasdale and Frazer Tatchell.
“We were very poor in the first 25 minute,” said Saracens’ Pete Lethbridge. “We didn’t really started playing until the second half. We did play some good systems in the second half, but it just was not enough to get the win or a losing bonus point.
“To be fair to them (Paignton), they have got a good side there. Talking to them afterwards they said they had three or four first teamers who just can’t get back into the first team.
“It was disappointing. The first half was very forgettable – a bit like last week. We seem to still have a bit of a hangover from losing to Dartmouth.”
He added: “I think we were missing seven or eight from last week, which is quite a lot and we were missing some key players in the pack. It was supposed to be a blank weekend and people had things organised so you can’t blame them for that.
“Paignton wanted an early kick-off and we could have boxed cleaver but we just wanted to get the game played to be fair. We had 20 and thought we had a decent enough team.
“But they were really well-drilled and have some decent players there. We just have to pick ourselves up now.
“We have a lot hard work to do before Friday and our game against Techs.”
Plympton Victoria and Plymstock Albion Oaks II both progressed into the next round of the Ellis Trophy on Saturday.
Plym Vic beat Plymouth Argaum II 36-12 at Bickleigh Down, while Oaks II triumphed 54-22 away at Saltash II.
Plym Vic were pleased with their display away at Argaum II. They scored six tries with Kobe Bryant bagging two and Jimmy Bore, Connor Archer, Chris Barratt and Connor Turner also crossing the whitewash and Barratt kicking three conversions.
“We were very, very pleased with the performance,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“Our backs performed very well – they just really came together. Ronan Cons stepped in at 10 and he controlled the game well.
“It was a good game to watch and we are looking forward to the next round now.”
Plym Vic also had praise for Plymouth Argaum for naming a genuine second team.
Argaum chairman Stuart Quarterman added: “We made sure we did the right thing and that it was a genuine second team.
“I can’t praise the lads that played enough and we played some good stuff, but Plym Vic took their chances very well.”
Argaum admitted Plym Vic’s backs were the difference.
Both Argaum’s tries came from forward moves with Herbie Owen, playing at eight, going over and then the hosts also got a penalty try from a driving maul.
Meanwhile, Plymstock Albion Oaks II had to come back from 12-0 down early on in their 54-22 win at Saltash II.
The Ashes got off to a great start when Simon Nance, who was back from injury, pounced on the ball after a good forward drive in the second minute to touch down and put them in the lead.
This was increased after 12 minutes with a Charlie Knight well-worked try which was converted by Will Hunt.
But Oaks, who handed a debut to Watisoni Radaubale at centre, hit back with two quick tries before a Hunt penalty restored Saltash II’s lead.
The game at this stage was being evenly contested but just before the interval Oaks II took a firm control with good strong forward play and running by their back division with two tries – one converted to make it 33-15.
The early second half exchanges were fairly even although the Ashes did receive a yellow card for an innocuous looking tackle after 58 minutes. It was during some pressure on the Plymstock line that Oaks broke away to extend their lead with another seven pointer.
Max Dennison came off the Ashes bench and charged through the Oaks defence to score a try, which was converted by Hunt. However, two more converted Oaks tries gave them a well-deserved victory in a very entertaining game.
Man-of-the-match Ben Ross scored a hat-trick for Oaks II, with his final one being a great chip and chase. Matt Jackson, Nathan Akers, Andy Porter, Ollie Elliot-Smith and Luke Austin also scored tries for Plymstock. Elliot-Smith and Joe Spencer both kicked three conversions, while Ross also added one.
Oaks II captain Stu Collyer said: “We started poorly, but some stern words under the posts led to a serious comeback that we’re all proud of.
“Nathan Akers and Ben Ross in the pack were outstanding, with Joe Spencer having a great game at nine. Radabaule and Scott Williams made a ridiculously powerful 12/13 partnership and Ollie Elliot-Smith was looking electric until we lost to him a nasty injury.”
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