DEVONPORT Services scored a last-gasp try to pick up a much-needed bonus point in a 44-26 away defeat to Cinderford on Saturday.
It was only Services’ second point of the season since moving up to National Two West in the summer and came at a side who were two divisions higher than them last term.
Devonport had travelled to the Forest of Dean without 13 first team players due to injuries and unavailabilities and within 18 minutes they had also lost back-row forwards Bertie Fordham and Joe Stansfield to injuries.
But they battled hard and played well and were only 22-19 down at half-time, but just could not quite keep it going before scoring a fourth try at the death.
“We got a bonus point with the last play of the game,” said head coach Ben Russell.
“And there were loads of positives. The boys did brilliantly and the lads that came on did really well.
“Leighton Stark came on and played really, really well and Mike Hunt came on early and he was outstanding. There were just so many positives.
“We just ran out of steam in the second half. It was 22-19 at half-time and we really should have been ahead. We got held up three times in the game.
“But we did keep going. They (Cinderford) came out all firing for the second half and they were bringing on some big old boys, but we kept going and got a bonus.”
Injury-hit Devonport, who handed a first National League start to young front rower Yianni Costas, felt they deserved the bonus point for their efforts at Dockham Road.
They had gone 15-0 down after 20 minutes with Elliott Southworth and Sam Smith scoring tries for Cinderford to go with a conversion and penalty from Luke McMahon.
But Services cup the gap to 15-7 with a good try by Tom Davies, who read a pass from Cinderford fly-half McMahon and intercepted and ran in under the posts. Richard West added the conversion.
The home side did go 22-7 ahead after a missed tackle allowed centre Hugo Murray to score from a scrum.
However, Devonport, who brought on youngster Stark for his first team debut, really finished the half strongly. Veteran forward Hunt, who had only intended to play second team rugby this season after returning to the game, scored on his National League debut to close the gap.
James McFarlane was then held up over the line before captain Matt Gregory scored a third try after a number of phases.
At half-time, Services felt it was a game they could win, but former National One side Cinderford came out strongly for the second period and opened up a 37-19 gap.
George Knowles scored a converted try straight after the interval before McMahon kicked a penalty and then experienced replacement Nathan Taylor went over for another try for the home side.
Cinderford had Southworth yellow carded, but Services could not take advantage and just before he came back on, McMahon scored a converted try.
However, Devonport kept up the pressure and Harry Edwards was yellow carded and a minute later Davies scored his second and Services’ fourth for a well-earned bonus point.
A Services XV is set to play the Royal Navy U23 at the Rectory on Wednesday evening.
COUNTIES THREE CORNWALL
SALTASH II turned on the style in the second half to overcome St Austell III 49-21 at Moorlands Lane in Counties Three Cornwall.
The visitors were ahead at half-time, but the Ashes blew them away with a great display of attacking rugby in the second period.
Charlie Knight put the home side ahead after five minutes with a left-wing touch-down.
Play was even until pressure from St Austell resulted in a try after 24 minutes which was converted.
Two minutes later a Nick Blake penalty restored the Ashes lead, but just before half-time another converted try for the visiting side put them 14-8 ahead at the change of ends.
But two Danny Snook tries within four minutes of the restart gave Saltash a flying beginning to the second half and move them 20-14 in front.
However, the Saints hit back after 58 minutes with a converted try close to the posts to take a one-point lead.
Saltash, though, continued to press hard and scored five tries in the last 12 minutes through Pete Harrigan (2), Ryan Wilson (2) and Greg Eatwell to go with conversions by Pete Harrigan.
DEVON CUP GAMES
PLYMSTOCK Oaks booked their place in the semi-finals of the Devon Intermediate Cup by overcoming higher league Cullompton 36-28 at Horsham Fields on Saturday.
In a game that saw momentum switch a number of times, Western West leaders Oaks went from leading 19-7 after 37 minutes to trailing 28-19 in the second half.
But they dug deep when Cullompton looked like they might pull away and eventually turned the game back around with two tries within the space of four minutes and a penalty with the last play.
“It was a really good win,” said Oaks head coach Lewis Paterson afterwards.
“Cullompton are a decent side and are in the league above. There were spells where we thought we could compete comfortably, but they also tested us really well.
“They are a smart rugby team; that’s why they are in the league above. You could see they have good systems, have a good pack with some big runners and they play smart.
“We’ve not been tested like that this season, so it was always going to be a positive and, like I said in mid-week, a win-win for us.
“We’ll take what we’ve learnt into the season and work on those areas. Then, if we were to go up, we would feel more comfortable.”
He added: “We were always in the battle and never took our foot off the gas again and that has grinded us out a result against a good outfit.
“We were also missing some boys like Sean Wills, Ollie White, Corey Jamieson and Joe Brearley and we played some young lads, which was really good.”
In windy conditions, Cullompton came close to scoring in the opening stages but were just pushed into touch close to the try line and then after that Oaks, playing up the hill first half, got some momentum.
Player-coach Paterson put them ahead on 14 minutes with a converted try on the left after a good kick by him had forced Cullompton to give away a drop-out which Oaks ran back well.
Cullompton did respond with a try by young fly-half Harrison Blake-Pead, which Matt Whitlock converted.
But Lewie Riley scored a second for Oaks after good play from a scrum and then Paterson bagged another after taking a quick tap penalty. That made it 19-7 to the home side.
However, the referee added on 12 minutes of added on time at the end of the first half due to injuries and stoppages and Cullompton scored twice in that period to take a 21-19 lead into the break.
Prop Tom Parker scored from close range before lively scrum-half Tegan Furner scored from a tap penalty. Whitlock converted both.
And within three minutes of the restart, the visitors had scored a fourth try when winger Marcus Busch went over in the right corner after Furner had taken another tap penalty.
Oaks found themselves hanging in during the opening 20 minutes of the second period, but they defended well and after Cullompton lost fly-half Blake-Pead with an injury and Plymstock made changes, suddenly momentum changed again in a thrilling contest.
Replacement forward Andy Porter scored a fine try to get Oaks back into the contest, which Paterson converted to leave his side just two points behind.
And four minutes later Mac Lewis held off a host of tackles to score close to the posts for Riley to add the conversion and put the home team 33-28 in front.
The cup tie was still there for the taking but in injury-time, Cullompton picked up a yellow card and with time up, Oaks opted for goal from a penalty and Riley put it over to seal victory for his side.
Before the match, Oaks were presented with Devon RFU’s team of the month award after an unbeaten September.
Devonport Services II are through to the quarter-finals of the Devon Second XV Cup after beating lower league Torquay Athletic II 49-10 away.
A much-changed Services II led 28-0 at half-time thanks to tries by Cam Donkin, Ryan Dunn, Dan Cooper and Khane Young, which were all converted by Matty Anstis.
After the interval Billy Sutton, Josh Martin and Laird Whitford added further tries for the visitors, which Anstis converted.
However, in the same competition, Ivybridge II were beaten 35-15 at home by higher league Barnstaple II.
Matt Finn and Toby Hosking scored tries for the Bridgers, with Hayden Coles adding a conversion and Matt Gilbury a penalty.
Ivybridge’s first team were not able to fulfil their Devon Senior Cup fixture away at Brixham, while OPMs handed Plymouth Argaum a walkover in their Devon Junior Cup match and Old Techs were also handed a walkover by Salcombe.
In the National Colts Cup, Devonport Services beat Launceston 50-7 at the Rectory, while Ivybridge host Torquay Athletic on Sunday. Sheldon Higgins bagged four tries for Services colts, with Jake MacKenzie getting two and Diego Lerro, Cole Page and Josh Bratt also crossing the whitewash. Olli Mytton added the rest of the points with conversions.
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