HEAD coach Dean Avery came on and scored the winning try as Plymouth Argaum narrowly beat much-improved Totnes 28-21 at Bickleigh Down on Saturday in Counties Three Devon South & West.
Argaum had gone 14-0 up, but Totnes pulled it level. The home team then went 21-14 in front, only for the visitors to again equalise.
But with just over five minutes to go, Avery managed to get the ball down for his second try in two weeks.
The powerful Dan Smith (2) and Tom Holliday had scored their other tries as Argaum picked up a five-point win.
“It was a good game, although we managed to make hard work of it,” said head coach Avery.
“It was nice to have Tom Holliday back as that helped us get on the front foot, along with Tom Worboys, Adam Walker and Dan Smith, who carried the ball well.
“I think both teams were struggling with availability, but it was good to get a win. It was a potential banana skin for us.
“We are now looking forward to a two-week break.
“We should then have our Fijians coming back, as well as Sam Faulkner, Ryan Negle and Tom Mann. We do have so many players left to come in.
“I’m hoping we can use this two-week break as a re-set and allow us to get people back and push towards the top of the league.”
Devonport Services showed the massive depth they have within their squad with both their second and third teams claiming big cup wins on Saturday.
Their second team crushed their Sidmouth counterparts 90-19 in the Devon 2nd XV Cup, while their third team also showed a clinical edge to overcome a spirited Plympton Victoria side 69-0 at St Mary’s Field in the Ellis Trophy.
Services’ second team was boosted by the debut of former Brixham, Plymouth Albion and Royal Navy centre Jesse Lowe, who lined up in a backline that also included Charlie Groves, Billy Sutton, Luke Stannard, Warren Weerakoon and Toby Moss.
The home side totally dominated the county cup game at the Rectory and were 50-7 up at half-time.
Their backs were just far too sharp for Sidmouth and all 14 of their tries came from the backline.
Man-of-the-match Groves, Weerakoon and Moss all scored four apiece, while Lowe and Stannard also crossed the whitewash.
Services II are now set to face Brixham II in the semi-finals of the competition.
Ivybridge II also progressed to the last four by beating Crediton II 27-14 at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday.
Chey Bryce bagged a hat-trick for Ivybridge, with Matt Skeemer also crossing the whitewash and Luke Martell kicking two conversions and a penalty.
In the Plymouth Combination Ellis Trophy, Devonport Services III’s had Ben Wadham inspiring them to a 69-0 victory over Plympton Victoria at St Mary’s Field.
Former first-team scrum-half Wadham, who played open-side flanker against Plym Vic, scored four tries and had a hand in a host of others as his powerful runs caused problems for the home side all game.
Plym Vic started and finished the game quite well, but in the middle of the contest when the rain started, Services III’s scored a host of quick-fire tries.
The strength Devonport now have in their squad was shown by the fact that the likes of Wadham, Olly Whitfield, Sam Fincham, Sam Winfield and Joe Page are playing alongside up-and-coming youngsters.
The side they had out on Saturday would have been tough for any Counties Three South & West side to beat.
Plym Vic, playing their first home game of the season, spent nearly the first nine minutes in Services III’s half, but the visitors scored a length-of-field counterattack try in the 10th minute courtesy of full-back Rohan Johnson and they never looked back after that.
Plym Vic did actually defend their line well when under pressure in the 22, but what they could not stop was the long-distance breaks and great off-loading by the visitors.
Fly-half Ollie Mytton scored Services’ second try after good play from a scrum.
And Devonport added three more touch-downs before half-time to take a 31-0 lead.
Their third was a classic scored by Fincham but it was started by Wadham deep in his own half. He broke and made 40 metres before Services then produced some great off-loading for Fincham to run in and score.
Khane Young was next to benefit from a Wadham break. Plym Vic did well to get back and tackle Wadham just short of the line but he was able to get the ball to Young, who had supported well.
Wadham did get the try he threatened on the stroke of half-time when he scored from a scrum.
He then scored two more in the space of two minutes at the start of the second period to make it 43-0.
Winger Brandon Knight also touchdown within a devastating five minutes for Services III.
Wadham then bagged his fourth in the 64th minute, before Young scored after Page had just been stopped short of the line by a great tackle.
Fincham added Services III’s final try after some fine play from a line-out.
Plym Vic did keep going and did finish strongly. Their late pressure did result in Services III picking up a yellow card, but the home side just could not get the try they were looking for.
Old Techs also progressed in the Ellis Trophy after they were handed a walkover by Plymouth Marjon, while Plymstock Oaks II were handed an away walkover by Cullompton II in the Devon 2nd XV Shield.
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