DEVONPORT Services scored 12 tries as they claimed their biggest league win under head coach Ben Russell.
Services overcame a much-changed Matson side 78-7 at the Rectory on Saturday to move to the top of Regional One South West.
It was their largest league victory since trouncing North Petherton 83-10 at level six in March 2022.
Services’ backs had a field day on Saturday, accounting for 11 of their 12 tries.
Harrison Coonick, back in the team after missing last week’s trip to Lydney, bagged four in only his second first team match in more than a year.
There was a hat-trick for in-form Tom Davies, who did take a big hit towards the end of the game, which will cause Services some concern.
Sam Brown, who was Devonport’s match winner the week before at Lydney, bagged another this weekend, while Dan Lilley and Richard West also crossed the whitewash, as did prop Oli Symons, who was the only forward to score.
Matson were missing a number of regular key players, including former Plymouth Albion and Worcester prop George Porter, and they did have to call on a few second team players to make up numbers.
And Services never really let up, although head coach Russell still feels there are areas to improve.
“We were good,” he said afterwards.
“We went 14-0 up quickly but then gave them a bit of a soft try. But we were then 35-7 up after 29 minutes. But disappointingly we went away from what was working, attacking the channels with pace. However, we scored with the last play of the half to make it 40-7.
“Second half we could have scored a load more points, but went off the boil at times.
“However, overall we attacked really well. The boys have taken on board that at times we need to get better at putting our foot on the throat and keep pushing.
“To beat the better teams, we can’t play for just 40 minutes, we need to play for at least 60-70 minutes.”
He added: “To be fair to Matson, they didn’t give up. They battled right to the end, but they were missing quite a few players.
“When we just kept it simple and moved the ball in attack, it was fantastic. And that is what we can do.
“We are attacking really well, but it is just defensively we sometimes let ourselves down. So that’s the big thing for a couple of weeks’ time.”
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE suffered their biggest defeat of the season as they went down 48-7 to Penzance-Newlyn at Mennaye Field.
It was the first time Ivybridge have not picked up any points this season.
They went into Saturday’s match having only lost two games, both by just one score, but they had to make a number of team changes for the match and also lost number eight Joe Owen early in the contest.
“It was a tough game,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“But I don’t think the scoreline reflects the game really.
“We had our eight Joe Owen go off after five minutes which didn’t help. We also went down with six second team lads in the end, so we were always going to be up against it.
“We didn’t start well at all and they went a few tries up.
“There were lots of penalties throughout the first half against them. I think I wrote down nine penalties and no cards.
“And it didn’t get much better in the second half either. The game finished with 21 penalties to them, to our six. There was a yellow card each for a scuffle and then a red card for a knee drop on our nine’s head. Luckily, the ref spotted it,” said Atkinson, who felt the official missed a lot.
“It is what it is,” he added. “You’re never going to get much when you go over the Tamar.
“The boys put everything into it though and it is another learning curve for the younger lads.”
Ivybridge went 17-0 down with Ben Wragg, Oscar Marr and Stan Somers scoring for the Pirates before the visitors did reply with a try from Owen Garner, which Harry Newman-Wild converted.
But just before half-time, the hosts scored another try courtesy of Joe Best to put them 22-7 ahead at the change of ends.
After the interval, the Pirates added four more unanswered tries. Wragg and Somers both collected second scores, while there was also touch-downs for Calum Gardner and James Lamborne. Rhys Brownfield added four conversions.
The defeat has dropped Ivybridge down to sixth in the table ahead of a week off.
CUP COMPETITIONS
PLYMOUTH Argaum are still able to dream about playing at Twickenham after they convincingly beat their city rivals Old Techs 55-13 at Weston Mill on Saturday in the RFU Community Cup Counties Three & Below Championship.
Argaum had been well below par in their previous two games, losing 28-7 away at Tamar Saracens and 48-7 at Brixham II.
But boosted by having the likes of Tom Worboys, Jake Turfrey, Will Lloyd and Kieran Burring back, they really upped their game.
Their strong runners like Worboys and Adam Walker really cut through Old Techs, who were uncharacteristically poor, especially in the first half.
Techs, missing a few key players, including the influential Ollie Davey, had found themselves 29-3 down at half-time and, although, they played better in the second half, they couldn’t really trouble Argaum.
Argaum head coach Dean Avery felt Saturday’s performance did show what they can do when they get their key players on the pitch, although he admitted it was again a struggle to get a side out.
“Again, this week it was difficult to get a team together,” said Avery. “I think we had 15 with me making up the bench.
“We are a good side, but it is just about trying to get people on the pitch.
“We were short again, but we did have some big ball carriers back and we managed to get on the front foot, which allowed our backs to run around.
“They (Techs) didn’t get off the line very well in defence and I think we exploited that. We took it to the line and we off-loaded and I think that was how most of our tries came.
“Hopefully, this can be a turning point and stop my frustration of trying to get a team together each week.
“The first two games we won by 60 and 90 points, but then we just couldn’t get a team the next week. It is frustrating, but it’s nice to see the boys really positive again.”
Argaum are now waiting to find out who they will play in the third round of the RFU Community Cup.
“It’s nice to still be in the competition,” said Avery. “Hopefully, we can get a home game or if not, it will be nice to get on a coach and go somewhere else.”
Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith said: “It was disappointing.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Argaum as they did have four or five good runners who we didn’t deal with. But we didn’t come up quick enough in the line, we didn’t chomp them down or went too high.
“Argaum fully deserved to win, but the first half was probably the worst performance I have seen us play in a long, long time, certainly quite a few seasons.
“The second half was just about putting a bit of pride back in the shirt, and we did a bit.
“We did have people missing in key positions, but I don’t want to make that an excuse. There can’t be any excuses. They probably had unavailabilities as well.
“We just didn’t cope with it very well, and we have to learn to.”
Argaum wasted a couple of good chances before Cheyenne Edwards did put them ahead with a penalty on nine minutes.
But Techs instantly replied with a long-range penalty from Sam Matts.
However, that was to be it for Techs in the first half as Argaum dominated the rest of the opening period.
Turfrey got the visiting side’s first try in the 26th minute after Argaum attacked down the blindside from a scrum.
Walker, who was a constant threat, came close to scoring a couple of times before Worboys got their second try after a tap penalty.
He then added a second three minutes later before Walker got the score he was threating in first half injury-time.
Adam McCrohan added another for Argaum 15 minutes into the second half, before Billy Evans did give Techs some hope with a try down the blindside after a good maul by the hosts.
But any hopes Techs had of closing the gap were ended when Avery went over from close range after Argaum turned their rivals over in their 22 and attacked.
Lee Rowley then added another for Argaum as Techs were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes.
New signing David Rousen managed a try on his debut for Techs, but the final word went to Argaum with Dan Smith scoring following a line-out.
Tamar Saracens, who had beaten Argaum the previous week, were unable to get a side out on Saturday to play Somerset South leaders Wells in the same competition and so handed them an away walkover.
OPMs were handed a walkover by Withycombe in the Counties Two South Plate competition.
In the Counties One South Plate, a much-changed Saltash side went down 38-0 away at their league rivals Penryn.
The Ashes handed debuts to Ryan Thomas and Tom Knight, while there was only a second first team appearance for Jacob Harvey and a third for Laurie Thompson.
Penryn started the game with the slope and wind in their favour and after early pressure crossed the Saltash line with a try within five minutes which was converted. The visitors tried hard to contain the quick passing Penryn backs but a break down on the left wing resulted in a try to extend the lead to 12-0.
Saltash were not able to get their game together and although managing to create some opportunities, could not put any points on the board. A further converted try took the interval score to 19-0.
The second period saw early Ashes attacks without scoring and another converted try by Penryn pulled them even further ahead after 50 minutes. A breakaway 62nd minute converted try on the left wing cemented a convincing Penryn display which was rounded off two minutes from the end with the final try of the match.
The inexperience in the Ashes team resulted in them not being able to gel together or contain the quick handling and fast home side, even though they tried hard.
In the Plymouth Combination Lockie Cup, Devonport Services II crushed the University of Plymouth II 104-0.
The students contained Services II pretty well for the opening 20 minutes, but then the floodgates opened and Services II just ran in try after try.
Services II did welcome back Kieran Down and Mike Howell after long-term injuries.
Warren Weerakonn scored four tries, with Charlie Over and Toby Moss getting apiece and Josh Martin, Luke Stannard, Billy Sutton, Jay Hick and Leighton Stark also crossing the whitewash for Services II.
In the Ellis Trophy, a late try by veteran prop Jai Popplewell secured Tavistock II a narrow 26-19 home victory over Plymstock Oaks II at Sandy Park.
Tavistock handed senior debuts to colts Joel Shears, Max Haddy, Billy Sherman and Monty Roberts and with the wind advantage went 12-0 up at half-time.
Chris Watts scored their first try on the right wing before Rob Hughes was bundled over after a number of strong midfield runs.
Oaks did have their chances but good defence, particularly from Taylor Richards and Vaughan Glover kept them out.
After the interval, Billy Sherman made a great break and Tavistock looked almost certain to add another try, but the final pass did not go to hand.
But Oaks got their tails up and scored three tries, including two length-of-the-field efforts, to go 19-12 up with just 10 minutes to go.
However, the Moorlanders pulled level with a Calum Baker try after good play by Joel Shears and Monty Roberts.
And with just two minutes to go, Popplewell scored under the posts after Oaks gave away a number of penalties.
Tavistock II are now waiting to see who they will play in the Ellis Trophy semi-finals.
Their second team will play again on November 8 when they take on OPMs – the same day as their first teams meet.
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