DEVONPORT Services concluded their pre-season campaign with a joint first and second team fixture with neighbours Ivybridge on Friday night.
The clubs played one 40-minute half and then two 30-minute periods so that both could look at their whole squads before their league seasons get underway on September 6.
Higher league Services did win 41-29 overall. They won the first 40 minutes, which was basically a first team match, 19-5, thanks to tries by Aiden Taylor, Billy Sutton and Tom Davies, with Richard West kicking two conversions.
Centre Angus Harris scored Ivybridge’s only try in that opening period, where the Cross-in-Hand club defended well.
The remaining two periods, where both sides made wholesale changes, were pretty even, but not really that memorable, with the referee constantly stopping the game.
Former Saltash players Rob Walsh and Freddie Dover scored tries for Services in the second period, with fellow new signing Sam Brown adding a conversion, while Seb Musgrave replied with two tries for Ivybridge.
Adam Lilley and Sam Wilmington were on the scoresheet for Ivybridge in the final period, as was Tyler Busfield and West for Services.
Both clubs were pretty happy with the run-out.
Ivybridge’s head coach Steve Atkinson said: “The main thing for us was minutes – that’s what we wanted and what they (Services) also wanted.
“I thought there was really good intensity there from both sides, but that’s always going to happen with a Devonport-Ivybridge game.
“The main thing was just getting another pre-season game as last year we only had one.
“That first half was a really good test for us as they are a league higher. It gave our young boys a bit more oomph in defence. No disrespect to the other two teams we have played, but they are not quite that sort of standard.
“We wanted to get some good games in during this pre-season and then finish with a bit of a strong test, which we did.”
However, Ivybridge did pick up some minor knocks and injuries on the night, including to scrum-half James Cantin.
“We have got an inter-club game next weekend, but I’m not sure if that is going to happen now,” admitted Atkinson.
Services head coach Ben Russell was away, but forwards coach Taylor said: “I think we got what we needed out of it in the end.
“In the first 40 we pretty much had our first team on and Ivybridge were competitive so it was a good 40 minutes.
“I think we probably tried to play the ball too wide at times when we needed to carry and go direct to create the space, but we have to be happy with not playing great and still being 19-5 up.
“But it was all about getting minutes. It was a bit scrappy, but overall it was a successful night. We now roll on to Sidmouth and Tavvy (opening league games for their first and second teams on September 6).
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