DEVONPORT Services gave second-placed Camborne a bit of a fright at the Recreation Ground on Saturday before the Cornish club pulled away midway through the second half to win 43-26.
The National Two West match was level at half-time and already-relegated Services went 21-14 in front at the start of the second period, but Camborne dug deep to come back and finish the season with an unbeaten home record.
“The boys were outstanding,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“The most pleasing thing was their commitment and desire – they didn’t stop for the whole game. Some of the boys put in their best performances of the year – they were cracking.”
He added: “We were drawing at half-time 14-14 then went 21-14 up at the start of the second half, but we just lost our way a little bit in attack and didn’t hold on to the ball enough and they just had more strength in depth off the bench.
“But they (Camborne) got a bollocking at half-time as they had never lost at home this year.”
Services did secure a try-scoring bonus point with a late touch-down. It was their 13th try-scoring bonus point of the season and means they can overtake Bournville if they can beat them in their final match of the campaign on April 26.
“Bournville also lost but got a bonus point so we are still three points behind them so if we can beat them in the final game of the season we can finish above them,” said Russell.
Services had lost 70-7 to title-hopefuls Camborne at home earlier in the season, but they appeared to have learned a lot from that game.
They took the lead on Saturday with an early try by Charlie Groves, which Richard West converted.
Camborne did hit back and went 14-7 in front with converted touch-downs from Ben Priddey and Harry Larkins.
However, Services, despite missing the likes of Aiden Taylor, Matt Gregory, James Hocking, Tom Davies and George Pooley, pulled level in the 28th minute with a converted try by Liam Jarvis.
It stayed at 14-14 until half-time and then after the interval, Devonport went in front with another try from Jarvis.
Camborne did up their game and prolific hooker Priddey scored three tries within 20 minutes to put his side firmly in control before Will Tanswell also touched down for the hosts.
But Devonport battled hard and they got a reward for their efforts when Billy Orchard crossed in the corner for their fourth try, which bagged them another bonus point.
CUP COMPETITIONS
PLYMSTOCK Oaks’ season came to an end as they were beaten 41-31 away at Western West league rivals Kingsbridge in the first round of the Papa Johns Counties One Southern Plate competition.
There was only two points between the sides at half-time, but Kingsbridge just pulled away early in the second half before Oaks staged a fightback and pulled the contest back to a score before the home side kicked a late penalty to seal the match.
“To be fair, we played really well considering we were missing a few backs like Corey Jamieson, Alex Chapman and Lewie Riley, who are really influential,” said Oaks player-coach Lewis Paterson.
“Yet we did play really well and if it had not been for a couple of errors, we could have won that game, but fair play to Kingsbridge.
“Usually when we have gone there, we have not really played to a good standard, but this time we did play some good rugby.
“I don’t think the lads are too downhearted, although I think there was the pride thing and we did really want to beat Kingsbridge at their place.”
He added: “That was our final game. We are done for the season now, but I am really proud of them. From where Oaks were a few years ago to the side they are now and the rugby they are playing we can say we are in a good place as a club, and I think we can only grow.”
In the first half Paterson and Duncan Bibby scored tries for Oaks, with Paterson converting both and also adding a drop-goal as they narrowly trailed 19-17 at the break.
Kingsbridge scored three tries in the opening 13 minutes of the second half to go 38-17 ahead, but Oaks pulled it back to 38-31 with 10 minutes to go thanks to converted tries by Harvey Courtis and Bibby.
Kingsbridge were feeling the pressure at this point, but in the 80th minute they were awarded a penalty which Ben Newman kicked to seal the match.
Counties Two Cornwall champions Saltash were handed a walkover by Falmouth on Saturday in the Papa Johns Counties Two Championship competition.
The Ashes, who were semi-finalists last year, will now host Counties Two Somerset champions Midsomer Norton at home in the second round on April 26.
Old Techs’ Twickenham dream is also still on after they beat New Cross 25-17 at Weston Mill in the Counties Three and Below Championship competition.
Techs will now host Hampshire club Romsey in the second round.
The Weston Mill club did have to work hard to see off Devon North & West outfit New Cross on Saturday in a game of contrasting weather conditions.
Heavy rain in the first half made handling difficult and chances were few and far between for both sides, who both defended well.
Most of the first half was played in the middle of the park as the sides did nullify each other slightly.
Techs, who dominated the scrums, did go 10-0 up in the opening 21 minutes with a try from close range by Brett Tunnicliffe and a conversion and a penalty by Sammie Matts.
But New Cross, who had beaten Techs last year in the Devon Junior Bowl final, did hit back and pulled level with tries by Ash Ansermoz and Cam Rideout.
The weather did improve in the second half – as did Techs’ performance.
However, the home side did have to defend really well at the start of the second period to keep New Cross out.
But a penalty as they kicked clear allowed them to get out of the half and on their first foray into the 22 in the second period they scored courtesy of Josh O’Hare.
Techs did not have that much territory, but they scored on nearly every occasion they did get into the New Cross’ 22.
A try under the posts from hooker Connor McQueen, which Matts converted, put them 22-10 up.
Matts then kicked a penalty to move his side three scores ahead at 25-10.
But in injury-time Matts was yellow carded and New Cross made the extra man tell to score under the posts courtesy of number eight Rob Pedrick.
Afterward Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith said: “It wasn’t our best performance by any means; for whatever reason we weren’t quite at our normal pace.
“I do think our ‘D’ in the second half won us the game. We have been working on our defence in the last two weeks. A couple of seasons ago, I think we would have lost that game.
“It was a good defensive display, but we know we are going to have to play better in the next round. However, you can’t always win fantastically by 40 points.
“New Cross are good at what they do. They slow it down, take it up in the forwards and pick and drive – very much how we used to play two or three seasons ago. They have got some older heads in there and they did really make it hard for us.
“When we got the ball, we generally scored, but they did starve us of ball, so fair play to them.
“Our scrummaging was outstanding, but our line-out could have been better. It was slippery in the first half and so there were knock-ons due to that, which didn’t help, but we just seemed a little bit lacklustre – and the lads knew it – but the main thing is we are into the next round.”
In the Plymouth Combination Pedrick Cup, Tavistock II reached Wednesday’s final after they beat OPM Jesters 42-7 at home on Saturday.
Brothers Jared and Sonny Hunter both scored two tries, while Chris Watts, youngsters Logan Sulsh and Oscar Slater, who were making their senior debuts, also touched down.
“The team did well considering we had a number who had not played this season and a few colts blooded in,” said Tavistock coach Hammy Kerswill.
Tavistock II will now play Devonport Services III in the final at Brickfields on Wednesday.
Devonport Services III’s were beaten 48-5 away to Crediton III in the semi-finals of the David Butt Trophy on Saturday.
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