DEVONPORT Services were under no illusions about how tough life could be in National Two West following their promotion from Regional One South West.
And that was brought home to them on Saturday as they were beaten 59-19 in their first home game by an Exeter University side packed with England U20 and young Exeter Chiefs players.
The students had made nine changes to their starting team that had drawn 15-15 at home with Clifton the previous week. Among those that came into their side were Ben Coen, Joe Bailey and Kane James, who had all started for England in the World U20 Championships final in the summer.
They and a number of other players had featured for the Chiefs in their early pre-season games and their skill-set, fitness and speed all showed on Saturday at the Rectory.
Services, who were unbeaten at home last season, were more than a match for them up front, dominating the scrums and scoring three tries from forward plays, but Exeter University’s impressive backs were just far too quick for them.
“There are some fantastic players in that team, and they showed it,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“We knew what was coming. They were fully loaded with a fantastic team of rugby players. They were strong, physical, quick and their skill-set was above ours, but that skill-set there would be above anyone in this league because that wasn’t their Saturday side. If they have a better BUCS Super League side than that, then I would be shocked.
“People will look at the scoreline and think we got pumped, but we were one try off a bonus point against a very, very good, young rugby side.
“If they had sent the team they played last week, I think we would have got way more out of the game, but they made wholesale changes.”
He added: “But I thought we were awesome. We didn’t give up and our defence just kept on coming. Yes, we ran out of gas, but they are all 18, 19 and 20 year-olds who have been doing a professional pre-season and we are amateurs.
“We had them up front and in the set-piece and I was very proud of what we did. We were better than last week (against Bournville).
“We were not going to come up into this league and go right here we go and bang. We just have to keep improving week-on-week performance wise – and we did.
“If we had just snuck that fourth try to get that bonus point, I would have said it was well-deserved for our performance.
“I have said to the lads not to worry about the score and just worry about the performance.”
Saturday’s game did come at a cost for Services, with wingers Harrison Coonick and Toby Knowles both suffering serious injuries. Coonick, last season’s top try scorer, broke his arm and Knowles broke his hand.
“They are not small injuries,” said Russell, who is already missing Mike Rickard, Matt Neyle, Aiden Taylor and Mark Friend. “But we’ll just have to deal with them and move on.”
Exeter University took just four minutes to open the scoring when England U18 international centre Nick Lilley, another Chiefs player, scored following a line-out move and Coen added the conversion.
Devonport just could not get out of their half and the visitors had a couple of good chances to score a second try before they did eventually get it when hooker Josh MacAndrew was gifted a score when Services messed up a line-out on their own line.
And within seven minutes Exeter were 28-0 up with forwards Jack Forsythe and Oscar Beckerleg crossing the whitewash and Coen adding the conversions.
But suddenly Services got out of their half and started to have a bit of pressure. They pulled one try back when stand-in hooker James McFarlane scored from a driving maul in first half injury-time.
Then Tom Davies came agonisingly close before the students were reduced to 13 men for 10 minutes with Beckerleg and MacAndrews picking up yellow cards.
And on the stroke of half-time, Services scored a second try from a scrum, with summer arrival Joe Stansfield getting the ball down and Richard West adding the conversion.
With a two-man advantage at the start of the second period, Services pressed, but just could not get a third try and eventually Exeter took control again.
Kane James, Lilley (2) and Lucas Dorrell all crossed for tries before McFarlane pulled one back for Services from another catch-and-drive move.
But the final word went to the students with replacement hooker Louis Gulley, another member of the England U20 World Championship winning squad, scoring from close range.
National Two West results: Loughborough Students 50 Hinckley 21, Clifton 36 Old Redcliffians 28, Services 19 Exeter Uni 59, Redruth 35 Camborne 43, Cinderford 13 Luctonians 15, Macclesfield 31 Bournville 28, Taunton 34 Hornets 19.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
DEBUTANT back Ben Fallows kicked a late penalty to secure Ivybridge a 34-32 home win over newly-promoted Sidmouth at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday.
The Bridgers had tasted last-gasp agony the week before at Matson, where they lost 28-27, so they were delighted to be on the other side of the coin this weekend.
“It was a nice game between two teams that really tried to play rugby,” said Ivybridge team manager Neil Thomson.
“But if we had got into top gear we could have gone away.
“We were in third gear, but we are playing entertaining rugby and the players are enjoying it.”
Sidmouth had gone 12-0 up and Ivybridge found themselves down to 14 men for 10 minutes as on-loan lock Dan Collier was yellow carded.
But Ivybridge dug deep with a player less and actually pulled a try back courtesy of Chey Bryce, who popped up on the overlap to receive a pass from Dan Skeemer.
The home side trailed 12-5 at half-time, but they levelled the contest soon after the break when young scrum-half James Cantin won the race to a Harry Cane kick forward and managed to hold off a tackle to score.
But Sidmouth responded with a converted try and a penalty to go 22-12 in front.
However, Bryce and Michael Jensen pulled tries back to put Ivybridge 24-22 ahead.
Bryce then completed his hat-trick from a catch-and-drive play to move the home team nine points clear at 31-22.
Yet in a game of shifting momentum, Sidmouth came back with a converted try and then a late penalty which edged them 32-31 in front with just two minutes to play.
But within seconds of the restart, Ivybridge got a penalty of their own and Fallows held his nerve to put it over and secure the Bridgers their first win of the season.
Regional One South West results: Brixham 17 Barnstaple 17, Chew Valley 21 Launceston 53, Exmouth 34 Royal Wotton Bassett 21, Ivybridge 34 Sidmouth 32, Lydney 42 St Austell 20, Marlborough 66 Matson 24.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks are the early leaders of Western West after they backed up their 45-3 away win over Tavistock with a 76-15 away victory at Bideford on Saturday.
It means Oaks have scored an impressive 120 points from their opening two games on the road and have only conceded 18.
On Saturday, the score was quite even for 30 minutes, but Oaks pulled away just before half-time to lead 29-10 at the interval.
They then turned on the style second half to score seven further tries.
“It was a dominant performance,” said head coach Lewis Paterson. “The forwards were relentless around the park, and they laid a huge platform, while the backs were also very good.
“We potentially left more points out there.”
Oaks led 29-10 at the break, with Corey Jamieson (2), Ben Turua and Alex Chapman scoring tries and Paterson kicking a penalty and three conversions.
After the interval, Jamieson and Turua completed their hat-tricks, while Paterson added two and Ollie White and Jack Tompkins also crossed the whitewash.
But while Oaks have enjoyed a dream start to the season, Tavistock have had a bit of a nightmare beginning to the campaign.
After their heavy home defeat to Oaks, they were crushed 74-7 away at Barnstaple II on Saturday.
It is worrying times for Tavistock as they were struggling to get a side out to travel to north Devon and once again had to pull-out of their second team fixture.
They ended up fielding a side with three debutants in their front five and another in their backline.
“We travelled with a number of debutants and boys stepping up,” said player-coach Hammy Kerswill.
“Unavailabilities and injuries hampered us and we were very much second best.
“I can’t fault the effort from those playing as there was plenty of heart, but we just weren’t at the level we needed to be.
“We have a VPs lunch next week and I really hope it picks up.”
Tavistock’s only points came from a try by Liam Watts, which Freddie Fuller converted.
Barnstaple scored 12 tries, with seven of those coming in the first period.
Winger Alex Macmillan scored five of home team’s tries, with Ollie James bagging a hat-trick. Ryan Jago, Callum Dovell, Tom Swales and Sam Carr also went over the whitewash for the home side.
Western West results: Barnstaple II 74 Tavistock 7, Bideford 15 Plymstock Oaks 75, Bude 27 Kingsbridge 22, Paignton 54 Redruth II 15, Penryn 22 St Ives 13, Pirates Amateurs 17 Wiveliscombe 20.
COUNTIES TWO CORNWALL
SALTASH ran in 14 tries in their opening home game to hammer Bodmin 86-0 at Moorlands Lane on Saturday.
After just two matches of the season, the Ashes have scored an impressive 153 points and not conceded a single point.
Their pack dominated on Saturday and that gave a great platform for their pacy backs.
Their first try came after only four minutes from a flowing move, finished off by full-back Ryan Cruickshanks with Jack Pritchard adding the conversion.
The next try came just five minutes later with another well-constructed move and the ever-dangerous Will Morton touched down to make it 14-0.
Bodmin battled hard to contain the constant home attacks without success and Cruickshanks scored again on the left wing to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Centre Greg Eatwell, who was always a threat to Bodmin’s defence, secured the bonus point after just 19 minutes with a converted try.
The evergreen Phil Eatwell then juggled with the ball before touching it down for a try to put the Ashes in a very commanding position.
Saltash were showing some excellent phases with their open style of rugby and Lewis Wells charged through on the half hour to score before Danny Snook chipped in with two tries just prior to the interval to put them 48-0 up.
The second period started in a similar way with Jason Carroll increasing the try count after 42 minutes shortly followed with Morton breaking down the right wing to increase the lead to 60-0.
Ryan Rayner at number eight had another impressive game and gave Cruickshanks a try with a good break from deep.
However, the visitors did make a late rally without managing to cross the Ashes line.
And more Saltash tries came from Wells and Morton (2).
A club spokesperson said: “This was a good and controlled Ashes performance which resulted in a clean defensive sheet for the second game running. Jack Pritchard at scrum-half was very impressive with his tactics, distribution and improved goal-kicking.”
Saltash’s second team also had a big win as they hammered Falmouth II 52-5 away in their opening Counties Three Cornwall match.
The Ashes were able to name a strong second team with the likes of Andrew Walsh, Lewis Stuart, Liall Honey, Devon Bennett-Murray and Ryan Simmons among their squad.
Counties Two Cornwall results: Falmouth 25 St Just 10, Hayle 39 Veor 24, Helston 26 Newquay 12, Perranporth 27 Wadebridge Camels II 5, Saltash 86 Bodmin 0, St Austell II Liskeard-Looe 12.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
CHARLIE GROVES scored four tries as a strong Devonport Services II side overcame OPMs 59-5 at King George V Playing Fields on Saturday.
Services II are looking like they might be one of the teams to beat again in the division and their line-up on Saturday included the likes of Groves, Tyler Busfield, Mike Hunt, Al Thomas, Luke Stannard and Ollie Whitfield, with coach Tom Richards on the bench.
As well as Groves bagging four, young scrum-half Billy Sutton scored two tries, with Kane Young, Ollie Lane and Leighton Stark also crossing the whitewash, with Stark (5), Tom West and Groves adding conversions.
OPMs’ only response came from new signing Tom Sunderland, who scored a try from number eight.
“It was a tough day for us,” admitted OPMs captain Billy Garratt.
“Just like both fixtures last year, it boiled down to fitness.
“Fair play to Services, they’re young, fit and quick and train with lads at level four, which shows.
“A few things for us worked, but a lot didn’t and now we just have to watch the recording to see where and what went wrong.”
After edging out OPMs last weekend with a last-gasp try, Plymouth Argaum found themselves on the losing end of a tight game as they lost 16-14 at home to Withycombe.
A late Tom Cooke penalty secured the Exmouth-based club the victory after Argaum had been 14-13 up going into the final few minutes.
“Conditions could not have been different to last week,” said Argaum chairman Stuart Quarterman.
“But both teams were very flat and didn’t really get going. It was a bit of a stop-start game with a few yellow cards dished out for technical offences.
“We didn’t get the win, but we got a point and from the result last season it is a marked improvement.
“We didn’t beat OPMs last season but we pulled that off last week so there’s definitely improvement.”
Withycombe went in front with a Cooke drop-goal, but Argaum hit back with a try by Ryan Neagle under the posts, which Luke McCreath converted to put his side 7-3 up.
That was how it stayed until half-time, but within five minutes of the restart, Withycombe took advantage of an Argaum yellow card to score their first try courtesy of Neil Scopes.
But then Withycombe had a player sin-binned and Argaum went back in front when the referee awarded a penalty try after teenager Spencer Pieterse was fouled after crossing the line.
Argaum then picked up another yellow card and Withycombe pulled it back to 14-13 with a try by Jayden Gore on 66 minutes.
And right towards the end the visitors were awarded a penalty, which Cooke put over to edge his side in front.
Argaum had a good spell of possession in injury-time and got a penalty, but they failed to find touch and their chance went begging.
Tamar Saracens’ first away trip in Counties Two Devon proved to be a baptism of fire as they were beaten 62-6 by a strong Honiton side.
The Honiton team included summer signings Isaac Dalton and Jack Fahy, who have joined the club from Taunton and Exmouth respectively.
The home side were 19-0 ahead after just 14 minutes thanks to tries by Alfie Lang, Rhys Phillips and Pierre Lenconte.
Rob Hall then kicked a penalty for Sarries, but Dalton and Ollie Rice added further tries for Honiton to give them a 31-3 half-time lead.
Sarries cut the gap slightly with another Hall penalty and threatened a try, but it just would not come.
And the home team finished the match strongly with Phillips and Ollie Rice both scoring two more to complete their hat-tricks.
“We were given a bit of a lesson,” said Tamar Saracens’ Pete Lethbridge.
“We went up with a weakened squad and had people playing out of position, but I can’t fault the guys that played.
“Honiton are a very good side at home – very strong. I know they’ve had players from Taunton and Exmouth come over to them and they were very good and very well-drilled. They were very good around the park.
“First 20 we were shocking and then we came back into it and then in the last 20 we just ran out of legs with a few injuries.
“But I thought our scrummage went well against them. We pushed them off the ball a couple of times and our line-outs went quite well. Our backs actually did look dangerous, and we did break the line a few times, but just couldn’t get over that try-line.
“As I said, I can’t fault the guys. It was a hard lesson, but maybe a good one for a lot of guys as they will have learned a lot.
“We knew it was going to be a tough ask going up there, but at least it’s out of the way now.”
Counties Two Devon results: Exeter Saracens 55 Exmouth II 17, Honiton 62 Tamar Saracens 6, OPMs 5 Services II 59, Argaum 14 Withycombe 16, Topsham II 33 Dartmouth 28, Torquay Athletic 87 South Molton 0.
COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST
THERE was a bit of a try-fest at St Mary’s Field as Old Techs beat city rivals Plympton Victoria 64-27 on Saturday.
Kieran Hurrell, a new signing from Saltash, enjoyed an impressive debut for Old Techs, scoring a hat-trick of tries.
Will Booth and Ollie Davey added two for the visitors, with Ben Hockey, Lewis Harvey, Dale Thompson and Dan Pullen also scoring for Techs.
Plym Vic did score four tries to claim a bonus points thanks to touch-downs form Jordan Blair, Lee Ingram, Jimmy Bore and Connor Archer to go with kicks from Alex Buckley and Chris Barratt.
Both sides took positives from the game, although both felt they could have done better in defence.
“We had a little 10 minutes where we blipped a bit and they got three tries during that time, which was disappointing to be honest,” said Techs chairman David Evans.
“But Plym Vic never give up and they will always give you a game.
“They are a lot better than they used to be and I’m sure they will turn sides over at their place.
“We were a little disappointed with our defence, but it was our first competitive game and to score 60-odd points is okay.
“As it was our first game, we were quite happy.”
Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt said: “They were a bit better than us, but what was pleasing is that three of our tries came in the last five minutes and that is a testament to our fitness.
“A few years ago we would not have been able to keep up that pace at the end of the game.”
Ivybridge II made it two wins out of two with a 50-32 away victory at Salcombe.
That match was another try-fest with both teams scoring five or more tries.
Plymstock Oaks II were without a match, while Tavistock II handed Brixham II an away walkover.
Counties Three Devon South & West results: Paignton II 27 Torquay II 24, Kingsbridge II 24 Totnes 24, Plym Vic 27 Old Techs 64, Salcombe 32 Ivybridge II 50
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