A LATE Mac Lewis penalty secured Plymstock Oaks II a nail-biting 20-19 victory over league rivals Old Techs in the final of the Ellis Trophy at Brickfields on Wednesday night.
It was heartbreaking for Techs, who had also lost in the final of the Devon Junior Bowls five days earlier.
The two sides had finished next to each other in Counties Three Devon South & West and the Plymouth Combination final proved as tight as expected.
Oaks II started really well and went 10-0 up, but Techs came back and took the lead in the opening minutes of the second period and went 19-10 ahead. They were still in front with 79 minutes on the clock. However, they were penalised at a scrum and former Marlborough fly-half Lewis, who has plenty of experience of playing at a higher level, stepped up and slotted the ball between the posts.
On the final whistle Oaks’ players could not hide their delight, whereas Techs players slumped the floor having again lost a game by just one point for the third time in seven matches.
Plymstock did dominate the opening 10 minutes, but Techs defended well and kept them out and slowly they got into the game. They did waste a couple of good opportunities by not finding touch and then getting pinged for a not straight throw at a five-metre line-out.
And Oaks took the lead in the 24th minute when Lewis kicked a penalty after some good pressure.
Six minutes later they then extended their advantage when winger Matt Jackson, who has made plenty of first team appearances this season, scored a great try from 35 metres out after Lewis produced a good long pass to find him out on the left.
But Techs finished the half strongly and Oaks were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes and Evans kicked a penalty before Jensen Baker scored a try in the left corner to close the gap to two points – 10-8 – at the break.
And within six minutes of the second period they had gone in front when Evans kicked another penalty.
Oaks should have scored re-start, but they were penalised for a forward pass before they picked up another yellow card.
Techs extended their lead to 16-10 with another Evans penalty. He then hit the post with a drop-goal attempt before narrowly missing a penalty.
However, he did kick another penalty to move his side nine points clear on 63 minutes.
It was looking good for the Weston Mill side at that point, but a converted try from replacement Tomasi Keresi following a tap penalty made it a one-score game again.
Lewis surprisingly missed a penalty three minutes later but he did put over a match-winning one in the 79th minute when Techs were frustrated to be penalised at their own scrum on their 22.
There was still time for a few more plays – and a yellow card for Olly Whitfield – but neither side were able to add to their tally, although Oaks did come close with the final play.
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