PLYMPTON Victoria booked their place in the semi-finals of the Ellis Trophy by beating OPM Jesters 32-12 at King George V Playing Fields on Saturday.
Plym Vic, who had overcome Plymouth Argaum II in the previous round, will now play either Old Techs or the Peninsula Medical School for a place in April’s final.
Saturday’s game struggled to get going in the first half. It was not helped by a serious injury to OPMs forward Shaughn Lewis after just 10 minutes that saw the game held up for a bit before it was decided to move pitches while Lewis waited for an ambulance to arrive.
The Jesters had started quite well but could not really create any clear-cut chances.
Plym Vic missed a penalty on 21 minutes before they somehow knocked the ball on over the line when they looked certain to score.
Eventually they did open the scoring courtesy of back Ethan Pringle after attacking from a quick-tap penalty.
Ten minutes later Pringle was yellow-carded as the home side finished the half on the attack. They really threw everything at Plym Vic in the final few minutes of the half, but the Devon South & West side’s defence held out.
And at the start of the second period, Plym Vic increased their lead with a fine try by full-back Harry Towle.
But instantly OPM Jesters hit back with a try from lock Jack Mitchell, which was converted by Oliver Summerell to reduce the gap to 10-7.
However, after that Plym Vic took control with OPMs’ mix-and-match team tiring and struggling with injuries.
After they had knocked on again on the line, Plym Vic did get a third try courtesy of Dan Warne. Jordan Blair converted that, before Pringle bagged his second with a long-range try after a good counterattack from a turnover.
Fly-half Blair then scored a fifth for the visitors after Trowle had done well and then Pringle collected his hat-trick with another try down the left wing.
That made it 32-7, but the Jesters did keep going and with the last play they got a second with another try from Mitchell.
OPMs’ first team did avoid a points deduction by travelling short-handed to Counties Two Devon leaders Barnstaple II.
Although they handed the hosts the league walkover before the match the teams did play an entertaining 12-a-side ‘game-on’ contest that Barnstaple won 50-29.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a full squad of 18 to travel, so instead we went up with 13 willing lads,” said injured captain Billy Garratt.
“The game was given to Barnstaple but importantly we didn’t lose the five points in the league as we agreed with Barnstaple and the ref to play a 12 v 12 game.”
The first 20 minutes was even, with both teams scoring two tries apiece to make it 12-12. Number eight Dave Brafftin got OPMs’ first before Matt Smale bagged a cheeky try.
But in the final 12 minutes of the half, Barnstaple took command with three tries to go 31-12 ahead at the break.
Kallan Malone pulled one back for the visitors at the start of the second period to make it 31-19.
However, Barnstaple replied with three tries, including one interception, to go 50-19 ahead.
But OPMs did finish strongly and really put Barnstaple on the backfoot with a host of scrums and Alex Jewell and Matt Smale both added tries in the final 10 minutes.
In Counties Three Devon South & West, Tavistock II claimed only their third win of the season as they beat Kingsbridge II 34-10 at Sandy Park.
Tavistock did hand a debut to new back-row signing Jacob Gaskin, who has joined the club from Ivybridge.
Kingsbridge II did take an early lead but two tries from Cam Wallace and one from Jordan Taylor to go with two conversions and a penalty from Freddie Fuller put Tavistock II 22-7 ahead.
Kingsbridge II did kick a penalty before half-time but that was to be the end of their scoring and in the second half Tavistock II added further tries through prop Jason Ward and flanker Vaughan Glover.
“The lads were very good,” said Tavistock head coach Joel Caddy. “It was a good all-round performance.
“They have been getting better for the last few weeks, but the pack was a lot more balanced this week as we had people playing in their correct positions rather than just filling in.
“I said to them afterwards that a few were sticking their hands up to play for the first team.
“Hopefully, they can keep the momentum going. I think the team is only going to get stronger.
“What’s good is that they have been plugging away and playing every week and now they have seven or eight game to see where they can get to. Hopefully, the team can have a good end to this season and then kick-on next year.”
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II moved out of the bottom three after they beat Bude II 29-17 away.
The Ashes took time to get the journey north out of their legs on a cold blustery afternoon at Bencoolen Meadow.
The home side hit their straps well and with the initial territory and possession very much in their favour, they turned the advantage into points in the 11th minute with a try from a five-metre scrum on the right for a 5-0 lead.
The Ashes responded well and in the 19th minute put number eight Steve Hillman over in the left corner to level the game at 5-5.
A converted try for the home side again saw them take a 12-5 lead in the 22nd minute.
Again, the ding-dong affair continued and in the 34th minute Hillman went over for his second try.
Saltash finished the half with their best score of the match after further territory and possession saw the back line put the ball through the hands to put full-back Dale Partington in for the try to take a 15-12 lead into the break.
Bude came out all guns blazing in the second period only for their storm to be weathered with the Ashes scoring in the 55th minute through winger Ryan Wilson and Nick Blake adding the conversion.
Saltash added to their tally 10 minutes later when lock Matt Coker went over from a tapped penalty with replacement Lewis Stuart adding the extras to make it 29-12.
As time wore on Bude added the final score of the game in the 68th minute, but it was the Ashes who took the try bonus win.
* Devonport Services’ Regional One South West match away at Lydney was postponed for a second time due to a frozen pitch. They will now try for a third time to play the game on February 10.
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