DEVONPORT Services were unable to cause a major shock on Saturday against second-placed Taunton Titans at Veritas Park.
Services went down 57-20 at the hands of the former National One outfit, who are unbeaten at home this season and were able to include international stars Ollie Devoto and Elvis Taione in their side.
The visitors, who had claimed their first win the week before against Redruth, did cause the Titans a few problems in the first half and were only 24-8 behind at the break.
But in the second period, Taunton turned up the power to pull away, before Services finished with a bit of a flourish with two late tries.
“We played quite well in the first half,” said Devonport head coach Ben Russell. “We attacked well and caused them a few problems, but we just didn’t quite execute our line-outs.
“And whenever we did get points we gave them easy tries.”
He added: “At half-time they (Taunton) had a bollocking and they came out for the second half physical and hard and from one to 15 we didn’t meet it.
“But when Ollie Devoto leaves that team, they won’t be as good as they are. He ran the show and was probably only in second gear.”
Russell continued: “It was a shame there wasn’t five more minutes as I think we would have scored a bonus point try.
“When we played rugby we actually had them in trouble. They scrambled well but they had to scramble on double-digit occasions.
“But we didn’t look after the ball well enough at times in our attack and our line-out let us down.
“As we say, we take every game and learn from it. We have a big one next week against Loughborough.
“We really could do with a couple of wins before Christmas.”
Rocky Prowse scored an early try for Taunton, but Services cut the gap with a penalty by Richard West.
Tongan hooker Taione added a second try for the home side, but they then had Ben Oliphant-Thompson sin-binned and Devonport took advantage of the extra man to score through Aiden Taylor on 31 minutes to make it 10-8.
But Taunton scored two converted tries in the final seven minutes of the half courtesy of Royal Navy star Ratu Vakalutukali and another from Taione.
In the second period, the Titans went 57-8 up with Vakalutukali, Archie Spokes, Oscar Kolowski and Connor Banks (2) touching down.
But Services did finish strongly and replacements Billy Sutton and Charlie Groves added late tries.
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE suffered another tough day as they were beaten 52-14 away at St Austell on Saturday.
The Saints had started the day just five points above second-from-bottom Ivybridge, but they have now shot up to seventh in the table.
The Bridgers should have known it was going to be an afternoon to forget after Michael Jenson was taken ill before the game and Ben Fallows suffered an injury in the warm-up.
The Ivybridge medical team were able to strap Fallows up to play, but it was not ideal preparation.
They then conceded a try almost from kick-off with former Plymouth Albion star Matt Shepherd crossing the whitewash.
With Shepherd dictating the game from scrum-half, St Austell added two more tries courtesy of hooker Pete Harris and a stunning one from full-back Archie Bees.
Ivybridge, who were frustrated with some of the decisions that went against them, did pull one back with Fallows scoring after a chip to the corner was caught by Harry Lakeman, who then passed inside to his full-back.
But with the Bridgers picking up two yellow cards, St Austell totally took hold of the game and ran in five more tries, with winger Jamie Stanlake bagging a hat-trick, Shepherd adding another and flanker Rory Jago also crossing.
Ivybridge did have the last word when Matt Grieveson put a clever chip kick into the corner for Fallows to gather and score.
Afterwards Ivybridge team manager Neil Thomson said: “They scored some outstanding tries, but six of their tries came when we were down to 14 players.
“Matt Shepherd was outstanding, as was their full-back, but when they are running against six backs instead of seven, it’s a bit different. They were very quick to capitalise on that.
“We scored the last try of the game. It was nice that we at least battle back and got another one.”
He added: “We have got a very young team and we are conceding some silly tries and we just have to mature a bit more.
“We have to get together and have a couple of fun sessions over the next fortnight, as well as some serious sessions, and just stick together.
“If we can get a win from one of our next two matches (against Marlborough and Lydney) then we can look forward to the second half of the season.
“We just have to keep sticking at it and believe in what we are trying to achieve. Hopefully, we can turn things around in the second half of the season.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
TAVISTOCK secured a much-needed win as they beat Penryn 17-9 at Sandy Park on Saturday.
It was only their second victory of the season and ended a run of five consecutive defeats.
In a tight first half, Tavistock led 5-3, with Freddie Fuller scoring after young winger Luke Burbage put in a really good chip kick which fell perfectly for his scrum-half.
Penryn had missed a couple of shots at goal in the first period, but they did put over a second penalty after the interval to go 6-5 in front.
However, Tavistock kept Penryn from crossing their line when they had quite a lot of pressure, and then Ethan Lamerton broke a couple of tackles to score and put his side 12-6 ahead.
Penryn had more pressure, but Tavistock defended well and, after the visitors missed another kick at goal, Martin Budden scored a third try for the home side to make it 17-6.
The visitors strangely continued to opt for the posts from penalties even though they trailed by two scores.
They did kick one three-pointer but they could not get another score to at least secure a bonus point.
The win has moved Tavistock up to third-from-bottom and they are now only two points behind ninth-placed Penryn.
Tavistock player-coach Hammy Kerswill was delighted with the win and with the fact that they managed to keep their try-line intact for the first time this season.
“The boys were quite fired up and did really well,” said Kerswill.
“Despite the small numbers at training we did look at defence this week so to not concede a try was a big win, as well as claiming the actual points.
“We had Joe Burbage, Jack Lewis, Rich Cann, Ethan Lamerton and Chris Watts back so we did have some bodies back, but it was just a good all-round performance.
“A lot of the younger lads like Sam Palmer, Tylo Coupland and Calum Baker had really good games. Everyone exceeded their average level. Charles Bowden was outstanding again and Jack Glover had a really good game having moved back to full-back after Ed Tait had to drop out.”
Tavistock do want to make sure they stay up.
“I think every time we have been up to level seven we survived a season and then gone down so, given everything and where we are at with numbers, if we can survive the season that will be the best the club has done,” said Kerswill. “There is a lot to play for.
“But, if I’m honest, we are not really looking at that (the table and positions). The important thing for us is we get bodies on the field and people enjoy their rugby.
“If we win games, we will move up the table. If we don’t, we won’t. We just need to concentrate on a bit of consistency with the people we have got playing week-in, week-out.”
Plymstock Oaks stayed at the top of Western West after they eased to a 39-10 home win over struggling St Ives at Horsham Fields on Saturday.
Most of the scoring in the match came in the first half, as Oaks led 29-10 at the break.
St Ives went in front in the first minute with a penalty, but 10 minutes later they were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes and Oaks took advantage, with first number eight Miti Caqara and then full-back Alex Chapman crossing for unconverted tries to make it 10-3.
But St Ives pulled level with a converted score of their own before Oaks finished the half strongly with three tries in eight minutes.
Ollie White went over the whitewash in the 32nd minute, with Lewis Paterson adding the conversion, then Mac Lewis crossed for another seven pointer before Duncan Bibby finished off the scoring in injury time.
The game lost its way a bit after the break. Joe Donnelly scored a sixth try for Oaks in the 55th minute and four minutes from time Archie Gray added a seventh.
Oaks sit top, but second-placed Paignton do have the same number of points as them, while Pirates Amateurs are only three points behind in third.
COUNTIES TWO CORNWALL
SALTASH have moved nine points clear at the top of Counties Two Cornwall after they beat neighbours Liskeard-Looe 79-10 at Moorlands Lane on Saturday and Newquay were surprisingly beaten by Bodmin.
A 79-10 scoreline might appear on paper as a totally one-sided contest, but Liskeard-Looe really took the game to Saltash and they had quite a lot of territory and possession.
The Ashes were really slow in getting going and spent most of the opening 15 minutes defending their own line, but once they did shake off any hangovers they really found a clinical side and in the second half every bounce of the ball and off-load went their way.
“It was a slow start, but we built into it,” said director of rugby Steve Down. “And bringing fresher legs off the bench helped.
“But the scoreline didn’t really reflect the game. Liskeard were quite plucky and quite good in defence.
“We said at half-time that they were given us a bit of a test and that it was a really good opportunity for us to put our shape on the game. In some games we have just been doing first up hits and breaking through and you don’t get a lot of shape from that.
“I thought it was good this week as we had to put some shape on the game. When we did that, we looked really good and clinical.
“We certainly did get really clinical towards the end.”
Liskeard did take an early lead with a penalty from Mike McCarthy and they were probably unlucky not to add to that as Saltash made a number of early mistakes that meant they could not get out of their half.
However, on their first real attack after Ryan Cruickshanks had chased and gathered a kick, they were awarded a penalty that Jack Pritchard kicked to level the match.
The Ashes then showed just how clinical they can be with a great try down the right by winger Will Morton after the home side switched play well from a scrum on the left. Pritchard added the conversion.
It then got better for the home side when Lewis Wells scored a fine try under the posts after Ryan Rayner had done well to off-load to him. Pritchard again converted to make it 17-3.
But Liskeard-Looe responded immediately with a converted try by centre Jack Badnall.
The visitors continued to pose some threats to Saltash, but the home side finished the half strongly with Lewis Stuart and Morton both scoring on the right to put them 31-10 in front at the break.
It was always going to be tough for Liskeard playing up the slope second half and they conceded a fifth try straight after the interval when Danny Snook scored in the corner for the Ashes.
That was quickly followed by one from young lock Charlie Knight after Morton had done well.
Liskeard’s lively scrum-half Greg Gillbard was ruled to have been held up over the line and within minutes Saltash scored a somewhat fortunate seventh try.
It came from Morton who completed his hat-trick after a high clearance kick bounced completely away from Liskeard’s full-back and fell perfectly for the Saltash winger to collect and run in under the posts.
Billy Dover thought he had scored a try on his 50th appearance in the 59th minutes after great play from replacement Fin Jones, but the referee decided to turn it into a penalty try.
That made it 57-10 and then everything just went against Liskeard-Looe. Snook intercepted one of their passes to run in and score from 35 metres. Then Rayner scored after Phil Eatwell had done brilliantly and looked like he was going to score only to be hauled down close to the line but he was able to get the off-load away to his back-row team-mate.
With Jones impressing from the bench, Saltash added two tries in the dying seconds courtesy of Cruickshanks and prop Liall Honey.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
TITLE-chasing Devonport Services II had to dig deep to keep their unbeaten start to the season going on Saturday away at Topsham II.
Services II were trailing 21-17 with 10 minutes to go, but eventually triumphed 29-21 and crucially picked up a try-scoring bonus.
A much-changed Services II side had led 17-14 at the break, with Josh Martin, Sam Fincham and Ethan Hilland scoring tries and Leighton Stark adding a conversion.
But after the interval, Topsham II hit back and went four points in front.
However, replacement Manasa Tamanikairrukuiovalau came on and scored two tries to secure Devonport the five points, which sets up a thrilling top-of-the-table clash in a fortnight’s time with fellow unbeaten side Torquay Athletic.
Leaders Torquay continued their 100 per cent record with a 68-12 home win over Plymouth Argaum on Saturday.
It was the fifth time in nine games this season that Torquay had scored 60 or more points in a match. Twice this campaign – against Topsham II and South Molton – they have even surpassed 80 points.
The Tics did the damage against Argaum in the first half as they opened up a 41-0 lead.
“Unfortunately, again we travelled quite light,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“In the first half they scored quite a few tries, but second half we really competed and scored two tries.
“It was better than the last time we went up there and got pumped by 100 points.
“They are a good side. They move the ball well and are big upfront.
“It was a tough day at the office and availability was disappointing again.
“But the guys are looking forward now to having two weeks off and hopefully we will have a few players returning from injury for the Exeter Saracens game in a couple of weeks.
“Another positive for us is that we have now played both Devonport Services and Torquay away.”
Recent signing Stuart Giles and JJ vom Hagen scored Argaum tries.
Morgan Alcock scored five for Torquay, who also had Matt Butler (2), Johnny Brown, Mitch Eagling, Jamie Blachford, Jack Akery and Josh Mackin touching down.
There was controversy at Norton Fields on Saturday as Tamar Saracens were agonisingly beaten 24-23 by old rivals Dartmouth.
Sarries thought they had won the game in the final five minutes when Rob Hall appeared to have kicked a penalty.
The visiting volunteer touch-judge did raise his flag, but the home touch-judge didn’t and so the referee did not award the three points that would have secured Sarries the four points.
“Wayne put his flag up, but the other guy didn’t and so the ref said he couldn’t give it,” said Tamar Saracens’ director of rugby Pete Lethbridge. “But even their coach has come over at the end and said it had gone over.
“As far as we were concerned he kicked it, but we just have to take it on the chin and lick our wounds.
“I couldn’t fault the lads. I think there were eight changes from last week but we played quite well.”
Dartmouth have won the last four meetings between the sides by just one score.
Having travelled with a much-changed side, Sarries had gone 10-0 behind early on after gifting Dartmouth a converted try after knocking on and then giving away a penalty.
But they then got into the game and after a tap penalty and a couple of breakdowns, Lew Harris ran through to score a try, which Hall converted.
Hall then kicked two penalties to put Sarries 13-10 in front at half-time.
The visitors then went 20-10 ahead after the interval with Hall kicking another penalty and then Joey Pook scoring a converted try.
Dartmouth closed the gap to 20-17 with a try of their own, but Hall kicked another penalty for Sarries, who did pick up two yellow cards at Norton Fields.
In a tight contest, Dartmouth went 24-23 ahead before the controversial penalty five minutes from time.
Sarries have dropped down to sixth, with Dartmouth now up to seventh, above OPMs, who were beaten 37-22 away at fourth-placed Exeter Saracens.
OPMs had travelled with a much-changed side to Exeter. Many of their club members had gone to Twickenham after the Elburton-based side had won a competition to be flag-bearers for England’s game with South Africa.
Twenty-four members of the club were treated to a VIP experience at the England game.
Along with a host of injuries, it did mean that head coach Andy Williams had to pull on his boots again on Saturday and he actually scored a first half try.
Matt Smale also crossed in the first half, while Fred Smale kicked a penalty.
After the interval, Sonny Rowe claimed a third try for OPMs, but unfortunately they were unable to get a fourth to return with something for the efforts.
COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST
OLD Techs bounced back from their first defeat of the season in style on Saturday by hammering Torquay Athletic II 76-12 at Weston Mill.
Third-placed Techs had been disappointed to lose heavily at leaders Brixham II the previous week, but they showed they had put that behind them by recording their biggest win of the season.
They ran in 12 tries against the Tics. Sam Matts and Dan Pullen both got two apiece, while Will Booth, Billy Evans, Nathan Webb, Ryan Smith, Kieran Hurrell and Ben Hockey also crossed. It was prop Smith’s first for the club.
“It was back to normal again,” said Techs chairman David Evans. “It was a good performance and a much better day at the office than last week.
“They (Torquay) were quite strong up front, but we just had too much for them.”
There were a lot of big scores in Devon South & West on Saturday.
Second-placed Ivybridge II crushed a makeshift Kingsbridge II team 113-10 at Cross-in-Hand.
In a one-side contest, Ivybridge ran in 16 tries. Will Johnson and Aaron Joynt both claimed hat-tricks, while there were two apiece for Owen Garner, Sam Wilmington and Harry Towle. Also crossing the whitewash was Ryan Cox, Ben Winters, Harry West and Max Bryan.
Plympton Victoria were on the wrong side of a heavy defeat as they were beaten 77-9 by unbeaten league leaders Brixham II, who have put 50 points or more on everyone other than Ivybridge II.
Brixham II have been running up cricket scores all season, so Plym Vic, who had claimed their first win the previous week, always knew it was going to be a difficult day.
“It was always going to be a tough one,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“I think probably half of their points came from us giving the ball away and them easily turning defence into attack. They were very good at spotting a gap.
“There was about a 20 or 30-minute period mid-way through the game when we stopped them scoring, but some of their backs were super-fast and most of their tries came on the outside.
“They have got some very young guys, who are very quick and very skilled.
“They deserved their win, but we think we gifted them more than we should have. When you come up against a team like Brixham you will pay for any turnovers.
“But the positive again is that we had a full team and a full set of subs.”
Plymstock Oaks II handed Salcombe a walkover after losing 53-3 to Plym Vic the previous week.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II were handed a home walkover by Penryn II.
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