DYLAN DALEY scored a hat-trick of tries as a strong Devonport Services II side overcame Saltash 40-29 in an entertaining Lockie Cup final at Brickfields on Wednesday evening.
Services II finished with six tries and Saltash five in a fine advert for Plymouth rugby.
Saltash, who finished as runners-up in Counties Two Cornwall, did have one eye on Saturday’s Papa Johns Community Cup quarter-final against Old Patesians and fielded a much-changed line-up to the one that had beaten Gordon League five days before.
The Ashes, who persuaded Max Venables to come out of retirement due to injuries in their backline, did dominate the scrums and forward exchanges, but Services’ backs were outstanding on the night and they won them the game.
Scrum-half Daley and winger Sam Fincham looked particularly sharp and bagged five of the team’s six tries between them, while former Plymouth Albion back Charlie Groves came on and touch down with his first touch.
Many of the Services II players were clearly keen on trying to impress head coach Ben Russell ahead of the Devon Senior Cup final against Exmouth on May 4.
Most of the side they named on Wednesday night have already tasted some first team action, but it was obvious a few were keen to prove a point ahead of the county showpiece.
Lock Mike Rickard is almost certain to be in the Devon Cup final squad after he continued his comeback from an ankle injury against the Ashes, but fellow forward Andy Pond, who was making his return after picking up an injury playing for Devon, suffered a set-back and had to come off early in the game.
The Devonport side took the lead after just 80 seconds when winger Fincham, who had an impressive game, scored in the left corner.
Daley then went over in the 14th minute after taking a quick tap penalty. Youngster Brandon Bonser added the conversion to make it 12-0.
But Saltash quickly closed the gap. They pushed Services off a scrum on their own line and number eight Ryan Rayner was there to dot the ball down for a try, which Ryan Cruickshanks converted.
Daley and Fincham both came close to scoring again before the latter did go over in the corner to make it 19-7.
Saltash, who were without star winger Will Morton, did close the gap to 19-12 at half-time when young lock James Sutton scored from close range after the Cornish club pushed Services off another scrum.
The Ashes brought on Lewis Wells – one of the players they had rested – at half-time and he came agonisingly close to scoring straight away.
But two minutes later Saltash had Cruickshanks yellow carded for a foul tackle after Services had kicked down the line and instantly Devonport took advantage of the extra man with Daley scoring after Fincham had done well.
And while the Ashes were still down to 14 men, Services scored a stunning length-of-the-field try started by Bonser in his own 22. He broke before feeding Matt Richards, who could have probably scored himself, but he unselfishly off-loaded to replacement Groves to score under the posts. Bonser added the simple conversion to make it 33-12.
But Saltash dug deep and momentum switched again. The Cornish club were held up over the line before captain on the night Phil Eatwell did score after hooker Rob Walsh had done well.
Services missed a penalty that would have moved them three scores ahead and it got interesting when Saltash scored another try on the right, with Venables looking like he got the ball down with help from Jack Pritchard. But Cruickshanks was unable to add the conversion to close the gap to seven points.
It meant the Ashes needed two scores to win. They nearly got one with a length-of-the-field move started by a storming run through the middle by Devon Bennett-Murray. They got right up to the line but eventually knocked on out wide.
They then paid for wasting that opportunity when Daley completed his hat-trick after producing a great dummy from the back of a maul.
The Ashes did pick up another yellow card but they finished strongly with hooker Walsh scoring from close range.
They will now turn their attentions to trying to reach Twickenham in the Papa Johns Cup. They will be hoping backs Morton, Jay Moriaty, Greg Eatwell, Danny Snook and Jason Carroll might be fit to play in Gloucestershire, but it is unlikely all will make it.
Services II might have finished their season now, but the club’s third team will play their Barnstaple counterparts away in the Devon David Butt Trophy on Saturday, while their league title-winning first team still have next month’s Devon Senior Cup final to look forward to.
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