DEVON SENIOR CUP FINAL: Devonport Services 27 Exmouth 22 (AET)
DEVONPORT Services retained the Devon Senior Cup and completed an impressive league and cup double, but they hardly had the energy to celebrate when the referee blew the final whistle at nearly 5pm on Saturday at the Rectory.
The club’s players just slumped to the floor, alongside Exmouth’s, after an exhausting and nail-biting cup final that went to extra-time and right down to the last play.
League champions Services eventually prevailed 27-22, but on a hot day, both sets of players were just totally drained after giving it everything to try and win the historic county trophy.
For a neutral it was a brilliant final to watch, but for supporters and officials of both clubs it must have been agony to witness.
Exmouth led 15-10 at half-time, but Services, unbeaten at home all season, turned it around and looked like they had won the game with a late catch-and-drive try from Mike Rickard, which Richard West brilliantly converted from the touch-line to put them 22-15 in front.
But West was then red carded in injury-time for a foul tackle and former Services’ player Jake Inglis scored a try with the last play of the game – 11 minutes into injury-time – and George Meadows converted the tough kick from out-wide under intense pressure to take the match into extra-time.
Both teams were out on their feet by then. Not only were Services down to 14 men for the additional 20 minutes, but they had also lost key players Matt Neyle, Harrison Coonick and Mark Friend due to injuries.
But they dug deep and a try in the first period of extra-time by replacement lock Kyle Felton proved the match winner, but Services did have to defend for the lives in the final few minutes as Exmouth threw everything at them to try and win it at the death.
“It was probably great for spectators as it was an eventful final,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“Exmouth were brilliant and they didn’t give up. They were physical, scored some lovely tries and scored right at the death to take it to extra-time.
“But we just came through. The boys just dug in and with 14 men it was outstanding.
“I think that just epitomised our season. The lads have just fought tooth and nail from day one and it showed as we just kept going and going and making tackle after tackle.
“We were losing at half-time but then were just about to win it, only for them to score right at the end.
“Yet we won extra-time with 14 men. It did really show the want from one to 22 – well actually one to 40 from the lads who have played for us this year. Everyone has just given their all throughout the season.”
Services had not played a competitive game for a month and that did show in the first half as Exmouth, who had beaten Brixham in a tough two-legged semi-final, had the better of the opening 40 minutes.
Devonport did defend well early on and they took the lead with their first real bit of pressure in the 15th minute when fit-again youngster George Pooley scored a great try after Coonick had done well to put him clear. West added the conversion to make it 7-0.
But almost straight away, Exmouth responded with winger James Clarke scoring a try in the left corner after some great passing across the line.
Meadows missed the conversion, but he did kick a penalty six minutes later.
By that point Services had lost full-back Neyle, who damaged his knee after a high tackle, and fellow back Coonick followed him off not long later with an ankle injury.
Exmouth then increased their lead to 15-7 when former Albion and Bristol prop Ollie Dawe picked up a dropped ball by Services and ran 70 metres to score a converted try.
Devonport were beginning to look a bit rattled and making mistakes that they don’t normally make.
But they steadied the ship with a West penalty before half-time to leave them just five points behind at the break.
Services were struggling with their line-out, which has been so reliable all season, and they were forced to defend early in the second period.
But eventually they got going and replacement Toby Knowles finished off a great team try in the left corner to level the match following forward pressure on the right from a line-out.
Exmouth, who had started to give away a lot of penalties, had Dave Bargent yellow carded for a foul tackle in the build up to Knowles’ try.
Fellow replacement Dylan Daley, who had to play on the wing due to injuries, thought he had scored in the 74th minute, but the try was ruled out after the referee said he knocked on grounding the ball.
Knowles was also denied a second minutes later for crossing.
But the third try Devonport were threatening did finally come in the fourth minute of injury-time when Rickard got the ball down from a good drive from a line-out. West held his nerve to crucially convert the difficult conversion.
It looked like that had won Services the match, but after West was surprisingly shown a red card for a tackle on Inglis, Exmouth piled on the pressure and with the last play of the game – in the 91st minute – Inglis went over in the left corner following a tap penalty and Meadows stunningly converted.
Extra-time was always going to be tough for both teams as they had given it their all. Services also knew they had to play the additional 20 minutes with a player less.
However, they re-grouped and replacement Felton scored a fine try in the fourth minute of extra-time to put them ahead.
They then defended brilliantly in the second period of extra-time to keep Exmouth out, although there were some heart-stopping moments in the closing minutes as the visitors threw everything at them and had a couple of great chances to score.
As well as receiving the Devon Senior Cup, Services were also handed Regional One South West title plaque after Saturday’s match.
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