SALTASH and Plymstock Oaks were both happy with their pre-season run-out at Moorlands Lane on Saturday.
Counties Two Cornwall side Saltash triumphed 34-31 in their opening warm-up fixture, having out-scored their higher league opponents five tries to one in the first half to lead 29-7.
But Western West side Oaks, who played Crediton last weekend, came back in the second period when playing down the slope and claimed a try with the last play of the game to finish within a score.
“It was a really good start for us,” said Saltash’s director of rugby Steve Down.
“I was pleased that we got some decent opposition because that is always a good test of where you are.
“I was pleased with the whole squad performance. Obviously, we rotated quite a few players, but everyone did their job and stepped up.”
He added: “It was nice to see some of the small tweaks we’ve made over the off-season and into pre-season are starting to come off.
“I think I was particularly impressed with the defence. It was quite solid. The intensity of the defence and tackling was really good.
“Also all the colts that have come up did really well.
“It was a good start and I think we are in a good place. We just need to hit the ground running when the season starts.”
Oaks’ head coach Lewis Paterson, who scored two second half tries, said: “Last week at Crediton there was about half of the players that are looking at the first team and they were mixed with the seconds, this week it was almost like a swap, which is good.
“We are just playing around with different positions and bringing in a few colts. It’s good to see some more young players coming through, mixed with some older lads.
“It was a good run out.
“We know Saltash early in the season are always quite dangerous. They have got a great squad of players and it’s a good place to go and test your rugby. To be fair, they should be in our league 100 per cent.
“They are a really good side and it was a great test. We now have another one next week against Okehampton.”
Saltash totally dominated the opening two quarters of the game.
They led 17-0 after 20 minutes thanks to tries by Liall Honey, James Moriarty and player-coach Lewis Wells.
Oaks did hit back at the start of the second quarter with a touchdown from Adam Koehler, which summer signing Lewie Riley converted.
But Saltash finished the period strongly with hooker Rob Walsh showing good strength to score a try on the right, which fit-again Sam Snell converted, before Greg Eatwell scored a fine try down the left.
The Ashes made plenty of changes at half-time and Oaks did hit back in the third quarter with Paterson scoring one try and summer signing Joe Brearley bagging two to pulled them back to within a score.
However, at the start of the fourth quarter, Ryan Cruickshanks touched down for the hosts to increase their lead to 34-24.
The home side then had to defend hard in the closing stages. It did look like they were going to keep Oaks out but right at the death Paterson chipped over the defence and collected the ball to run in for his second try.
Oaks now play Okehampton next week, while Saltash will take on OPMs.
Devonport Services head coach Ben Russell was left with plenty to ponder after his side were beaten 40-17 away by Barnstaple on Saturday in their second pre-season run-out.
Russell, whose side were only 24-17 down at the break, was far from happy with the performance against the side they beat for the Regional One South West title last season.
“We started fantastically,” he said. “We scored in the first two minutes and moved the ball around well but then we just switched off.
“It wasn’t a great day at the office. Nothing stuck and we couldn’t keep the ball.
“I think we must have made about 30 handling errors and gave away more penalties than we have ever done in a game I’ve been involved in. We just were not at the races and it is a bit of a wake-up call.
“There were a couple of very good individual performances, but it was a very stop-start game, and they (Barnstaple) just fronted up more.
“We gave away two intercept tries and they scored three tries around the breakdown.
“Our performance was way off. Against Albion (last week) it was there or there abouts – they just had more power and were the better side – but this week we dropped down loads of levels.
“We have one game to fix it now before the season starts.”
James McFarlane, Tom Davies and Jack Evans scored tries for Services, who will play Launceston on Thursday evening.
Ivybridge felt they got a lot out of playing National League side Taunton away, despite losing 58-5.
Taunton’s squad for the match included the likes of England international Ollie Devoto and Tongan international Elvis Taione.
The home side led 29-0 at half-time but Charlie Teague did get a try for Ivybridge in the second period.
“It took them 12 minutes to score and in fact we were probably the better team in the first 12 minutes,” said Ivybridge team manager Neil Thomson.
“Possession and work-wise we probably shared four of the eight, 10 minute spells, but they won the other four.
“They had internationals whereas 16 of our 25 had come up through our junior set-up.
“They had a much bigger pack than us, but it was a good experience for us and we gained a lot more out of it than we probably expected.
“I think they respected us and they probably got a lot out of it as well.”
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