REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE remain 12 points away from safety after they were beaten 38-7 away at title-chasing Launceston on Saturday.
The Bridgers were only able to come away with a second-half penalty try for their efforts at a cold and muddy Polson Bridge.
Head coach Davy McGregor felt they should have got more out of the game, where the home side, with Cam Fogden scoring a hat-trick of tries on his 50th appearance for the club, showed some clinical finishing.
“Dare I say it, I thought we were the better team. I know the score does not reflect that, but for 60 minutes we controlled the game, but again our lack of experience at key moments told,” said McGregor.
“We were in their half for probably 80 per cent of the game, but we came away with seven points, whereas they were in ours for 20 per cent of the match and came away with 38 points, which included two or three breakaways.
“I just feel for the lads as they are staying in the fight and you can’t fault their effort, but when you are at the bottom of the league the bounce of the ball always goes the opposite way.
“There was a point when we were 14-0 down and we were on their line for a long time. There were three points on offer, but we tapped and went. We could have had three points to go into half-time, but instead we tapped and went and got turned over and they have kicked down the field and scored. We went from potentially going in at 14-3 down to 21-0 down.”
He added: “It was a typical January in Launceston – freezing cold and a mud bath, but we actually played the conditions quite well, although if anything we probably over-played them, if that makes any sense. We probably tried to look for field position when we could have kept the ball in hand when we were breaking them down, but they were very solid in their own 22 defensively.
“But again, I could not fault the effort.
“I do think we are a different team from where we were in October-November time. I do feel we have some consistency. Sixty or 70 per cent of our squad is staying consistent.”
It does not get any easier for Ivybridge, who handed first team debuts to South African players Adon Blouws and Reggie Fulla on Saturday, as they now have to face Launceston’s title rivals Barnstaple and Brixham in the next two weeks.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
THIRD-placed Plymstock Oaks made a winning start to 2025 with an entertaining 41-28 victory over third-from-bottom Bude at Horsham Fields on Saturday.
After a tight first half, Oaks pulled away from their Cornish visitors with three tries in 10 minutes at the start of the second period.
“It was not a bad game,” said Oaks’ Mark Lenthall. “We had a few young colts in who did very well.
“We played some decent rugby in phases.
“When it is drier it is easier to play how we like to, but it was nice to see some young boys out there and getting on the scoresheet as well. Two of the colts scored tries.”
He added: “Bude were good. They have a good pack, with a good scrum and line-out, and they ran hard and tackled hard, so it wasn’t an easy game by any stretch, but we were comfortable.”
Oaks did go 12-0 up after 16 minutes with tries from Charlie Kirkwood and Jake Parkes.
Bude responded with a touch-down from flanker Fin Fry before hooker Joe Donnelly put Oaks 19-7 ahead with a third try for the home team.
However, Bude closed the gap to five points with a try just before half-time.
But Oaks came out fast for the second period and scored two tries within the opening five minutes courtesy of prop Harvey Courtis and player-coach Lewis Paterson.
Courtis then added another try in the 52nd minute to put Oaks 36-14 in front.
But Bude did finish strongly and scored three tries in the final 22 minutes to take home a valuable bonus point for their efforts, which moves them six points ahead of Tavistock.
Tavistock were not able to pick up anything from their home match against fifth-placed Wiveliscombe, as they were beaten 48-16.
The home side were disappointed as they had one of their strongest line-ups of the season.
“We were poor to be honest,” said player-coach Hammy Kerswill. “It was frustrating as it was probably the strongest side we have put out.
“Our discipline was not very good at all. We gave away too many technical penalties, which kept them in the game.”
Tavistock did start well and took an early 5-0 lead with a try by Kerswill from a driving maul before he picked up a yellow card.
The teams traded penalties before Wiveliscombe scored three tries before the break to lead 22-8.
“It could easily have been 22-8 the other way around at half-time,” said Kerswill, who ended up needing five stitches in an eye wound after a clash of heads late in the game.
“But they (Wiveliscombe) are a side that if they get into your 22 they generally come away with points.”
He added: “Joe Burbage came on and firmed the scrum up, Charles Bowden was doing well at 10, Jack Glover played well on the wing and Richard Cann carried really well, but we just let some soft tries in second half.
“Eventually we did wake ourselves up a little bit with about 15 minutes to go and Andrew Craddock put Ethan Lamerton in to score from about 15 metres out, and Freddie Fuller converted, but just too many soft tries off unforced errors or poor discipline cost us.
“But, it’s not really that surprising. It doesn’t matter how good the team you have is on paper, if it is a bit thrown together and you haven’t been playing or training together then the errors are going to happen.
“In some ways it was more disappointing than some of the hammerings we have had just because we had the potential there to get a result.
“Taking nothing away from them (Wiveliscombe) as they were clinical when they got the ball and off penalties they capitalised, but it was just a bit disappointing not to take anything from the game because we were poor and not because we were out-played.”
The one big positive for Tavistock is that they were able to get two full teams out on Saturday, with their seconds losing 29-14 to Saltash II in the Ellis Trophy.
“The twos came off buzzing as there were some really good performances,” said Kerswill. “They were really happy. There were a couple of players playing their first games having been training quite a bit so that was a positive.”
COUNTIES TWO CORNWALL
TITLE-chasing Saltash started 2025 with a bang by running in 14 tries to beat Falmouth, who had started the day in third place, 93-0 at Moorlands Lane.
The Ashes have certainly sent a message out to the rest of the league with the size of their victory against a team that were on a five-game winning run.
Helston, who they play on January 18, would appear to be Saltash’s only real challengers now.
The Moorlands Lane club came out fired up on Saturday and were 31-0 up after just 20 minutes.
Centre Danny Snook, who would go on to bag five tries, got them off the mark with their opening score on seven minutes, which was converted by scrum-half Jack Pritchard.
Winger Will Morton then bagged two unconverted touch-downs before Snook scored his second and young lock Charlie Knight also went over during an impressive opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Snook grabbed his third to go with two from Ryan Rayner as the Ashes changed ends 48-0 up.
With the cold and wet conditions taking their toll on both teams and the crowd, the second period was less clinical from the home side as they emptied their bench.
The first try of the second half came through Snook followed by Morton, who looked hungry throughout. Pritchard converted both to move the score to 62-0.
The remaining scorers were replacement back-rower Fred Dover, Snook for his fifth, centre Sam Snell and Rayner, who like Morton, claimed a hat-trick.
It was a good day for Saltash as their seconds progressed in the Ellis Trophy with a hard-earned 29-14 away victory at Tavistock II.
Lock Aiden Marshall, scrum-half Ross Martin, flanker Steve Hillman and Oli Smith scored tries for Saltash II, with fly-half Nick Blake adding two conversions.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
PLYMOUTH Argaum moved off the foot of the Counties Two Devon table by beating city rivals Tamar Saracens 17-14 in cold and damp conditions at the Parkway on Saturday.
It was Argaum’s first win since mid-October and went some way to avenging their heavy 76-12 defeat at the hands of Sarries at home earlier in the season.
“It’s been a difficult time for the club,” admitted Argaum head coach Dean Avery. “We were still missing a lot of boys, but those that came in wore the shirt with pride and we managed to keep hold of the ball, which is what we knew it was going to be about.
“On a day like that it was always going to be about small margins and fortunately for us it went our way.
“It is nice to get back to winning ways, especially with the way we lost last time to Sarries, going down by 70 points.
“We are fortunate to have (ex-England and Exeter Chiefs player) Dom Armond involved with us this week. He will be doing a video analysis session with us on Tuesday and I’m sure the boys are going to enjoy that.”
The one downside for Argaum is that Bryan Milford, who was making his debut for the club, picked up a red card right at the end of the match.
“That was disappointing,” said Avery. “I have been at the club for two-and-a-half seasons and that’s the first red card I have seen. We will have to look at that as I didn’t see it.”
Tamar Saracens, who had led 7-0 at the break, were really disappointed with the defeat.
In the opening 40 minutes they dominated possession and territory but failed to turn it into points as they suffered their fourth one-score defeat in five games.
“We were our own worst enemy,” said director of rugby Pete Lethbridge. “We just didn’t play like we can and came down to their level.
“Fair play to them, they played a good, smart game, but in the first half we should have been 20 points up. I don’t know why we weren’t, but maybe we over-tried in the conditions.
“It was frustrating, to say the least, as it was a game we should have won – again.
“Yes, we got another losing bonus point, but we’re gutted.
“I’m disappointed for the boys, but they just didn’t play like we have trained – the pod systems and the moves we have done. It’s like we have just panicked.
“Fair play to Argaum and Dean, he’s done a good job there, and Tom Holliday and Dan Smith had good games.
“There were some bizarre decisions from the ref, but we can’t blame him as we have lost the game.
“It’s not a great start to the new year, but we just have to dust it off and train hard for Services away next week.”
Argaum found it hard to get out of their half in the opening 40 minutes as Tamar Saracens enjoyed most of the possession.
But the home side wasted a number of good chances, including losing two five-metre line-outs, and knocking on six metres out when they looked certain to score after a great break started by Frazer Tatchell.
Sarries also failed to take advantage of Argaum going down to 14 men for 10 minutes after centre Jake Turfrey was yellow carded in the 15th minute.
In the 39th minute, Argaum finally produced a good attack that resulted in them winning a penalty. They went for goal, but Cheyenne Edwards missed the kick.
And in first-half injury-time, Sarries did finally score after a bit of good fortunate.
They got a penalty and Lew Swatton went for the posts. However, his kick missed but an Argaum player deflected it out of play for a five-metre scrum for the home side. From the set-piece, Sarries pressed and eventually Joey Pook managed to force his way over under a host of bodies. Swatton kicked the conversion to put his side 7-0 up at the break.
But Argaum started the second half really well. They came close to scoring in the first minute from a maul before they did pull level five minutes later when Tom Holliday went over from a tap penalty.
From the restart, Sarries earned a penalty, but Swatton was unable to kick the three points and within minutes Argaum had scored a second try thanks to a poor error by the home team.
Sarries tried to pass the ball across their in-goal area, but they knocked it on, giving Argaum a five-metre scrum. The visitors attacked from the set-piece and eventually Holliday went over again. Full-back Stuart Giles added the conversion to put Argaum 14-7 ahead.
Swatton and Giles both missed penalty attempts before the latter did kick one in the 76th minute to make it 17-7.
Argaum probably thought the game was won then, but the referee decided there was 14 minutes of added-on time.
Sarries finished strongly and Argaum were reduced to 14 men again on 80 minutes and two minutes later Lew Harris scored a fine try for the home side. Swatton added the conversion to make it 17-14.
By that point it was nearly dark, but Sarries went looking for a late score to either win or draw the contest.
Thirteen minutes into added-on time, it looked like they had got the chance to either go for goal or the corner when they were awarded a penalty inside Argaum’s half. The referee showed Milford a red card for the foul, but he reversed the penalty after an altercation between the players which brought an end to the match.
Devonport Services II have dropped down to fourth in the table after a surprise 24-7 away defeat at in-form Withycombe.
It was only Services II’s second loss of the season. The only previous team to beat them was leaders Torquay Athletic.
Services II, who handed a debut to Marjons prop Jack Jones following his recent switch from Ivybridge, were only three points behind at half-time, but Withycombe took advantage of some mistakes by the visitors to seal the game in the second period.
The home team had gone 10-0 up thanks to a penalty by Tom Cooke and a converted try by Sam Wheeler after Jones had been yellow carded for Services II.
Devonport did hit back before the break with a try by Dan Beer, which Leighton Stark converted.
However, tries by Joe Blyth and Liam Daniels won the match for Withycombe.
OPMs were disappointed to only pick up a try-scoring bonus point as they lost 29-20 away at Exmouth II.
The Old Boys felt they had enough chances to score more tries and they also missed 11 points from kicks.
“It was a frustrating game,” said OPMs team manager Shaun Grundy. “We got the four-try bonus point, but it should have been a five-point game for us.
“I think discipline was a big factor and we made a lot of silly mistakes and handling errors. I know it was cold, but handling errors were a big issue for us. We really butchered some potential opportunities.
“We had some patches of really good rugby, but we just couldn’t finish and that’s the hard pill to swallow. There was some really good rugby and some really good support play, but we would just butcher a chance with the last pass or knock it on.”
Frankie McNulty, Zak Mussa, playing his first senior game at loose-head prop, Henry Matthews and Fred Smale scored tries for OPMs.
COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST
OLD Techs and Ivybridge II kept up the pace at the top of Devon South & West with comfortable home victories.
Techs beat Totnes 70-0 at Weston Mill and Ivybridge II triumphed 43-5 over Paignton II at Cross-in-Hand.
The two teams are level on 50 points from 11 games, with Brixham II nine points behind in third but with two games in hand.
Techs did most of the damage in the first half against Totnes as they stormed into a 42-0 half-time lead. They then added a further four tries after the interval.
Sam Matts, watched by his dad, had an impressive afternoon by scoring a try from the halfway line and converting all 10 of Techs’ tries.
Will Booth also had a good day, with a hat-trick of tries, while Billy Evans bagged two. Sion Norville, Dan Pullen, Ben Hockey and Dale Partington where their other try scorers.
“It was just nice to get a game,” said Techs chairman David Evans. “It was a good result after not playing for a while.
“To be fair to Totnes, they kept going and battled right to the end. They certainly gave us a game.”
Ivybridge II ran in seven tries against Paignton II, with five of those coming in the second half.
Josh Measor and Dan Bristow scored in the first half, with Luke Martell kicking a conversion.
After the interval, Harry West (2), Ben Winters and Adam Clayson added further touchdowns for the home team.
Plympton Victoria felt there were plenty of positives from their 34-10 home defeat to fourth-placed Salcombe on Saturday.
“It wasn’t too bad,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt. “The lads did well and we played some good rugby. It was certainly an improvement on the last time we played them.
“Yeah, they deserved the win, but we did give them two or three tries.
“We just let ourselves down by not securing the ball from kick-offs, which is something we need to tighten up on, but it was an improvement.”
Number eight Sid Bear scored Plym Vic’s only try, with Alex Buckley converting it and adding a penalty.
Plymstock Oaks II were forced to give Torquay Athletic II a home walkover. It is the third walkover Oaks II have handed out this season and they remain second from bottom.
Pictures are low resolution and are protected by copyright so should not be used without permission.