DEVON RFU began their preparations for this year’s County Championship campaign with a hard-fought game against the Royal Navy in wet and muddy conditions at Brickfields on Wednesday night.
In a tight contest, the Royal Navy edged it 19-12 with a late try.
The Navy side included Devonport Services’ Matt Scott, while the Devon squad featured his club colleagues Oli Symons, Tyler Busfield, Mike Rickard, Kyle Felton, Bertie Fordham, Shaun Crawford, Tom Davies and Charlie Groves as well as Ivybridge’s James Cantin, Adam Lilley and Charlie Teague.
Brixham, Topsham, Sidmouth and Crediton also made players available for the mid-week fixture, which delighted the new county coaching team.
Services’ Richard Goldsby-West is Devon’s new head coach, with former Plymouth Albion players Mike Lewis, Mark Lee and Will James supporting him.
“It was muddy, but it was good and we got what we wanted out of it,” said West afterwards.
“And we’d like to thank Plymouth Albion for hosting the game.
“We played well and defended quite well, but just a couple of dropped off tackles let them in for tries.
“We scored one in each half and with 10 minutes to go it was a two-point game and it could have gone either way.”
Ivybridge’s Charlie Teague, James Cantin and Adam Lilley who played for Devon on Wednesday at Brickfields (Picture: Ivybridge RFC)
Mitch Pinkus and Dan Armstrong scored Devon’s tries. The Green and Whites’ next match with be the annual Tamar Cup before the County Championships begins on May 6 with an away fixture against Buckinghamshire. They will then host Somerset at Brixham and Gloucestershire at Barnstaple in their Division Two pool matches.
This year, West said Devon wanted to have a bigger playing squad and a bigger coaching set-up.
“We have got a squad of about 40-45 players,” said West. “There were eight or nine boys rested on Wednesday as they have been carrying knocks the last few weeks.
“We have got a good pool of players to pick from and plenty of clubs have been keen to get involved, which is good and what we want to build for the future.
“We have a break now before the Tamar Cup on the Easter weekend at Albion. We will meet up for a few sessions before that and pick a squad for that game.
“Last year and in previous years, we’ve had smaller squads, but have then picked up injuries or there have been holidays and we’d be calling people in.
Whereas now we just want everyone on the same page and make training and selection more competitive.”
West is ‘excited’ about taking on the role of head coach.
“I coached the backs last year so I was assistant coach and I’ve just moved up to head coach,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I have a good coaching group with me. We’ve got Mike Lewis, Mark Lee and Will James.
Richard West playing for Devon
“Will’s moved back down here and is keen to get involved in some coaching. I just had a chat with him and thought it would be ideal to bring him in with all his experience. It will be really good for the lads to pick his brain.
“We wanted a slightly larger coaching group with plenty of experience and also a bigger squad.”
As Devon, who have reached Twickenham for the past couple of seasons, are once again in Division Two, where players have to be level five and below.
With three Devon clubs at the top of Regional One South West, Devon should be strong at that level.
“In Devon at the minute we seem to be really strong at level five,” said West.
“It would be nice to hopefully go well this year and eventually go up to Division One and hopefully have a few more Devon clubs in the National League.
“It would be nice for Devon to have three or four National League side rather than just two
“Our goal is to be a Division One county again.
“The last few years the work Dan Parkes did has made playing for Devon more valued again.
“Now if you are not working hard and doing well for your clubs then you won’t be in consideration, but if you are doing that then you will put your hat in the ring to potentially finish the season at Twickenham.”