DEVONPORT Services have extended their lead at the top of Regional One South West after they survived a late scare at Exmouth and their neighbours Ivybridge shocked their title-rivals Chew Valley.
Services triumphed 20-17 in muddy conditions at Exmouth. Devonport had been 20-3 up at one point but the hosts came back and with the last play they could have kicked a penalty to secure a draw, but they went for the corner and Services managed to steal the line-out.
And their title hopes were boosted massively by struggling Ivybridge hammering Chew Valley 46-19 at Cross-in-Hand.
It was by far Ivybridge’s biggest win of the season and came after heavy defeats to Brixham and Barnstaple.
It means Devonport are now seven points clear at the top of the table with four games to go. Barnstaple have moved up to second after they ended Lydney’s unbeaten home record with an 18-10 victory at Regentsholme. Chew have dropped down to third and are now 10 points behind Services.
Devonport’s head coach Ben Russell was just delighted his team were able to grind out a win at Exmouth, where Services had never previously won a league game.
“We didn’t play as well as we could have, but our defence was cracking at times – well, pretty much spot on all game,” said Russell.
“We played with the wind first half and we were 15-3 up at half-time and then we went 20-3 up in the second half and we sort of were in control.
“But we maybe kicked at the wrong times and we let them back in a bit.
“They had the opportunity of a kick to draw at the end of the game, but they have gone for the line-out but they’ve lost it and we’ve got a penalty at the scrum and kicked it out.
“Did we deserve to win it? Potentially, yeah, but a draw could have also been a fair result at the end.”
Russell admitted it was a bit nerve-wracking in the closing stages.
“It was, but the boys were outstanding in defence and put so much pressure on them,” he said. “And our line-out was class.”
Mark Friend had given Services the lead at the Imperial Ground when he went over out wide.
The visitors got a second try on 17 minutes when Shaun Crawford scored under the posts after good work by James Hocking and Tom Davies. Matt Neyle added the conversion to make it 12-0.
Exmouth then had Brad Skinner yellow carded but the home side cut the gap with a George Meadows penalty.
However, that was soon cancelled out by one at the other end by Neyle, who did miss another just before the break.
After the interval, Services extended their advantage to 20-3 when a break by Harrison Coonick resulted in Hocking touching down in the corner.
But then momentum turned and Exmouth cut the gap to 10 points when Charlie Gibbings scored after a series of pick-and-goes and Meadows added the conversion.
Straight from the restart Devonport then had Andy Pond sin-binned and the hosts got another converted try courtesy of James Clarke.
Then with the last play, the home side were awarded a penalty 40 metres out in front of the posts, but Exmouth gambled to try and win the match. They went to the corner, but Services did brilliant to turn them over at the line-out and secure a vital four points.
Ivybridge’s stunning 46-19 victory over Chew Valley was probably the shock of the season, especially as they were trailing 19-3 at half-time.
Chew’s biggest defeat until Saturday was a 27-17 reverse at Services, while Ivybridge sat third from bottom of the table and were missing a host of players.
The Bridgers were not able to call on the likes of Charlie Briant, Ben Watts, Adam Northcott, Tom Scoles, George Montgomery, Jamie Tripcony, Kristian Davis, Sam Brown and Marcus Prout for various reasons.
“It was brilliant,” said head coach Davy McGregor on his side’s win. “I suppose it was surprising as they were second in the league, but you always say you have one really good result in you.
“Even though Barnstaple massively hammered us, there were actually parts of that game where we were really in charge. And this week we were totally in charge in the second half.
“There was a huge effort from the boys stepping up.
“I think everyone knew they had to try and do it for themselves as they couldn’t depend on the stalwarts of the club who weren’t there.
“I think it is important that the boys realise that actually sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns and prove a lot of people wrong.
“The club has been so dependent on the same players all the time and it is sometimes good that other guys come in and really perform.
“I just think once you get your tails up then everything starts to work.
“Everything is about momentum and at the end of the day we are five from seven and I think people forget that.
“Sometimes as a group like this the main thing is the hard-fought wins and showing that fight and desire. I was really proud.”
McGregor was pull of praise for Dan Skeemer who made his debut for the club and bagged a try.
In the first half there were no real signs of a shock as Chew comfortably went 19-3 ahead with Matt Grieveson kicking Ivybridge’s only points in the first 40 minutes.
But after the interval, the Bridgers really got to Chew by forcing them back with some good kicking and then forcing them into mistakes.
And once Ivybridge got going and cut Chew’s lead, first with a couple of Grieveson penalties, the floodgates really opened and the home side totally ran away with the game.
Royal Navy scrum-half Jay Toogood scored two of their six tries, with Dan Skeemer, Will Peakman, Sam Furse and Hayden Coles claiming their others and Grieveson finishing the day with four conversions and two penalties.
Ivybridge are now eight points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
LEADERS Plymstock Oaks bounced back from their heavy defeat to Tiverton in their last outing by overcoming relegation-threatened Bideford 31-0 at Horsham Fields on Saturday.
The bonus-point win keeps them four points clear of Tiverton and Paignton with four games to go.
“It was a good win,” said head coach Lewis Paterson. “Conditions were a bit of a leveller, so it was hard-fought.
“It was just good to bounce back like we wanted and it was good to get some points and nil them.
“It was a really good response. We know we have to keep the results ticking with how tight the league is.”
He added: “We were very dominant as a team but sometimes with the weather the last pass dropped and stuff like that.
“There was probably about 30 or 40 points left out there from us. We were in their 22 a lot.
“I think we just forced it a bit as we got to the point where we had three tries and we were desperately trying to get that fourth, but we did get it in the end.”
Tom Richards, Alex Thomas, Ollie White and Corey Jamieson scored tries for Oaks, with Paterson converting all the tries and adding a penalty.
Tavistock’s home match with Bude was postponed on the morning of the game due to the conditions and has been rearranged for this coming weekend.
COUNTIES TWO CORNWALL
TITLE-chasing Saltash secured yet another comfortable victory as they overcame Illogan Park 49-0 away in wet and muddy conditions.
Despite the tricky circumstances, the Ashes managed their game-plan well and did not give the home side any opportunities to put any points on the board.
It was the sixth time this season – and second time against Illogan Park – that they have kept a clean sheet.
Ryan Rayner crossed for an early try for the visitors before Phil Eatwell made a break to give Jason Carroll the space to score a second try for the Ashes after 10 minutes and make it 10-0.
A rare visit into the Saltash 22 gave Illogan a penalty but the kick went wide.
More Ashes pressure with good handling of the slippery ball led to Ollie Crawford increasing their advantage.
After a period of even play Danny Snook then broke through after 35 minutes for a try close to the posts and Ryan Cruickshanks added the conversion to give Saltash the try bonus point at the interval as they led 22-0.
The second half got off to a quick start and after 42 minutes replacement Rob Walsh got his name on the scoresheet with Cruickshanks again adding the extra points on a pitch that made place kicking very difficult.
The elusive Greg Eatwell was on hand to avoid the home defence to touch down and Cruickshanks ran through to take the lead to 39-0.
In the last five minutes Phil Eatwell and prop forward Liall Honey completed the Ashes scoring to record an impressive and controlled team victory.
Both Cruickshanks, with his running and probing kicks, and Fin Jones, when he came off the bench, were outstanding. Illogan never gave up but could not hold the well-drilled Ashes.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
DEVONPORT Services II stay in second placed after crushing bottom side Ivybridge II 79-14 at Keyham on Saturday.
Services II did most of the damage in the second period, where they scored 52 points.
At half-time they led 27-7 with tries by Elliott Lupson, Josh Hemmings, Matt Richards and Toby Moss. Fit-again fly-half Mike Howell kicked two conversions and a penalty in the opening 40 minutes.
Ivybridge did get a penalty try in the first period, which also saw Moss yellow carded.
After the interval Devonport’s Aaron Duffield and Ivybridge’s Jay Geraty swapped tries to make it 34-14 but then the strong Services team, with Rhys Williams making his first appearance of the season, took total control.
Ethan Millard, Matt Richards, Williams, Dylan Daley, Moss, Howell and Duffield added further tries with Howell kicking the rest of the points.
Ninth-placed OPMs have all-but mathematically secured their status in the league after they beat North Tawton 34-7 at home.
That win leaves them 22 points above North Tawton, who sit in the final relegation place, with five games to go.
In tough conditions, OPMs took hold of the game in the first half and led 22-7 at the break.
Matt Smale gave them the lead with a try and a conversion in the 13th minute before winger Alex Jewell added a second try almost from the restart.
North Tawton did respond with a converted try from prop Stuart Beenie, but a Matt Smale penalty and then a converted try from a scrum by number eight Pete Marr gave OPMs breathing space at the interval.
Fred Smale and Jewell then added further tries after the break.
“In OPMs fashion we made bloody hard work of it,” said returning captain Billy Garratt. “We did leave a fair few tries out there.
“Credit to North Tawton, they didn’t back down from the challenge. They played some really good rugby, but I just think our defence was a little bit better.”
He added: “The target and talk on Tuesday and Thursday at training was about only coming out of this game with a bonus-point win.
“The intensity was there, even if, to be honest, it wasn’t our best game.
“In the conditions and the state of the pitch to grind out a bonus point win was in the end very good.”
However, Plymouth Argaum were left frustrated as they were narrowly beaten 20-19 at home in horrible conditions by fifth-placed Honiton.
Argaum were 19-17 ahead before Honiton kicked a penalty to edge them in front. The visitors then dug deep in the closing minutes to keep Argaum out.
“It was a wet and horrible day and we just gave the ball away too cheaply when we were in the red zone,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“We had an awful lot of pressure but just didn’t get over the whitewash – we just weren’t clinical enough unfortunately and they were.
“Whenever they got into the 22 they always came away with points, whereas we didn’t.
“We also couldn’t exit. Instead of kicking out from our 22 we were just kicking it down their throat so they could run it back at us and they just kept coming away with points, whereas we didn’t and that was the difference.
“At the end we got ourselves into a position where we were in front of the posts pushing for a penalty or something, but it just didn’t come.”
Argaum were missing the likes of Eddie McGinley, Billy Stockwell, Jake Turfrey, Tom Shepherd and Al Percival and they handed debuts to full-back Rory McCarthy and hooker Harry Hart.
The match was tight all afternoon. In misty conditions, the sides switched ends at 12-12. Tom Worboys and Adam McCrohan scored tries for Argaum, with Ben Kidson and Rob Price touching down for Honiton.
Ollie Rice put Honiton 17-12 ahead after the interval before Tom Holliday scored a converted try to edge his side in front. However, a Jonnny House penalty in the end proved the difference.
COUNTIES THREE
ROB HALL kicked a penalty with the last play of the game to secure Tamar Saracens a 25-23 win over Paignton II at a wet and muddy Parkway.
Second-placed Sarries had dominated the first half and were looking comfortable as they changed ends 19-6 up.
But they self-destructed in the second period by trying to play out of their own 22 in horrible conditions and just kept losing the ball.
Their lead was cancelled out after just 15 minutes of the second half. They did go back in front with a penalty but Paignton II instantly replied with one of their own to lead 23-22.
It did not look like Sarries were going to win as they just could not get any territory, but in the ninth minute of injury-time they got a penalty in the middle of the park that allowed them one last opportunity.
They went for the line-out and pressed. They struggled to make any ground in the mud but eventually they got the penalty that they wanted and Hall calmly slotted the kick it between the posts and win them the match.
“It was abysmal second half,” admitted Tamar Saracens’ Pete Lethbridge.
“The first half I thought we played very well. We had good structure, but then we let them into it a bit.
“Second half we just didn’t play. It certainly wasn’t the best, but we ground it out.
“It is just nice now having a goalkicker like Rob.
“I had thought we had lost it, but, fair play to the boys, they dug it out and we got the win, which is the main thing.”
Sarries dominated the early stages and they took the lead in the seventh minute when centre Reece Boase went over on the left following some great passing after turning Paignton over at a scrum on the right.
Two penalties by Mike Sandercock cut the gap to 7-6 before Tom Hicklin scored from a catch-and-drive move and then Joe McKingley scored in the right corner following a scrum to make it 19-6 at the break.
Paignton II had a try ruled out early in the second half but the referee gave them a penalty and sin-binned McKinley.
And from the tap penalty, the visitors did score through Sam Bastock.
He then added another while Sarries were down to 14 to make it 20-19 to Paignton.
Hall then edged Sarries back in front with a penalty before Sandercock cancelled that one out.
Paignton thought they had scored another try in the 73rd minute but it wasn’t given and Sarries got out of jail with the late penalty.
But whereas Sarries narrowly edged a tight game, Old Techs were on the wrong end of a narrow loss. They went down 27-26 away at Salcombe.
However, Techs did come away with two points as they did score four tries and finished within a score of their opponents.
“We did out-score them on tries,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith. “It was a close game and it could have gone either way. There was nothing in it.
“I think maybe just our penalty count was too high and a few mistakes cost us tries, but we did play some good rugby and we are not that disappointed as it was just one of those games that could have gone either way.”
However, there was bad news for Techs as front-rower Rudi Baker suffered another series knee injury. Baker had only returned to action this season after 18 months out with an injury to his other knee.
Jack Williams, Conor McQueen, Ollie Davey and Dale Thompson scored tries for Techs, with Billy Evans kicking one conversion and Al Murray two.
Plymstock Oaks II have moved above Techs after they beat Torquay Athletic II 26-19 away.
Owen Koehler, James Soper, Owen Paterson and Pete Keanie scored tries for Oaks II, with Will Scantlebury kicking three conversions.
In the derby match at St Mary’s Field, Tavistock II overcame Plympton Victoria 24-5.
Tavistock II had been struggling for players earlier in the week as a number of their squad were needed to step up to the first team for their match with Bude. But that Western West match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Sandy Park and so their second team squad was stronger than the one they initially named.
Plym Vic had beaten Tavistock II’s away and they were hoping to close the gap on them in the league, but they could only manage one try on Saturday, which came courtesy of Harry Towle.
Tavistock’s tries came from experienced back Jack Glover and forwards Tylo Coupland and Callum Baker, who had both been due to start in the first team against Bude.
“We were pleased with the performance and the effort in terrible conditions,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“We really wanted to get the game played as we had 29 players available and there is a really good feeling around the club.
“It was a bit frustrating we couldn’t get a bit more out of the game, but it’s another one ticked off.”
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II lost 39-8 at home to Launceston II.
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