DEVONPORT Services were crowned Regional One South West champions on Saturday after beating Marlborough 65-32 at the Rectory.
Services can now look forward to a return to National League rugby after a cameo appearance at level four last term.
“It was our goal from the start of the season to get back to where we were last year,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“And it was lovely to win it at home.”
After going behind early on, Services stormed into a 43-5 lead after just 34 minutes.
But then Devonport took their foot of the gas a bit and the game became a typical end of season affair
“In that first half we showed what we have done all year – played some lovely rugby and torn teams apart,” said Russell.
“It was probably always going to be a bit like it was in the second half.
“I think the boys are shattered. It’s been a long season and they have just kept digging in.
“But we just have one game left now and we’d like to finish on a high before a big, big pre-season.”
Probably the highlight on Saturday came with the last kick of the game when long-serving Matt Gregory successfully converted a try by young Nathan Todd, who made his first start on Saturday.
Gregory has decided to call time on his long playing career and Saturday’s game was his last one for the club that he has played for all his life, making over 350 appearances.
He could easily have ended his final match with a couple of tries, but he unselfishly opted to pass the ball when the try-line was calling.
However, he did accept the offer of taking the final conversion. It was not a simple one right in front of the posts. The kick was about 15 metres to the right of the uprights, but, to the joy of all his team-mates, he slotted the ball over the bar.
“I keep telling the lads it’s not that hard, but they keep missing,” laughed Gregory afterwards.
“I felt I had to show them one last time how to do it.
“It was good fun at the end.
“It was a fantastic way to finish the season off and my career.
“It’s been 17 or 18 seasons – a long slog – but it was a good way to finish.”
Services were in Western West when Gregory made his senior debut and he has helped the club move up the leagues in recent years.
“It has been a good last six or seven years,” he said. “I think we’ve had four promotions, two Devon Cups and a Devon Shield.
“But it hurts too much in the morning now to keep going.
“And it’s good to see the young lads coming through.”
Services handed two of their youngsters, Ben Whysall and Nathan Todd their first starts on Saturday, while Henry Gascoyne made his debut from the bench.
But they found themselves behind after less than three minutes when Marlborough, whose team relies heavily on South Sea Island players, scored in the corner.
That seemed to wake up Services and they pulled level in the 10th minute when hooker Rob Walsh scored from a catch-and-drive move.
Marlborough then picked up a yellow card and the home side scored three tries while they were a man down.
Walsh, who is looking more and more comfortable in the side after moving from Saltash midway through the season, scored a second from another catch-and-drive move before prop Oli Symons scored in the same way two minutes later.
Then Todd capped his first start with a fine try after Gregory had put him in. It came after good play by George Pooley and Shaun Crawford earlier in the move.
Tom Davies was next to score after Walsh showed good hands to catch a difficult ball and feed his winger.
Gregory then put Symons in to score his second try of the afternoon on his 100th appearance for the club. That made it 36-5.
Marlborough kicked a penalty before Services scored their seventh try courtesy of Liam Jarvis.
But the visitors did pull one back before half-time when they scored an interception effort to make the half-time score 43-15.
Marlborough then scored twice within the opening six minutes of the second half to close the gap to 43-27, but Services pulled away again with three unanswered tries.
Pooley finally got the score he was threatening all afternoon in the 50th minute before James McFarlane got the ball down from another catch-and-drive effort.
Tom Davies then scored his second with a fine run down the right after Services had run back a Marlborough box kick well.
The visitors did bag another try in the 37th minute but Services had the final word when young Todd reacted quickly after two Marlborough players ran into each other trying to collect a kick through. Todd was able to pounce on the loose ball and score his second try before Gregory brilliantly added the conversion.
After the match there was also a presentation to Services team manager Kieran Leach as Saturday was also his last game.
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE were handed a home walkover by already relegated Wellington on Saturday in Regional Two South West.
“We were disappointed with the Wellington game being called off so late,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“We were told Friday evening, so we couldn’t even really organise something else for the sponsors’ day we had planned for the last home game of the season.
“Luckily our colts kick-off was changed so we want to thank Crediton for that.
“At least a couple of hundred people here got to watch some rugby, plus we had the veo live on the screen inside watching the twos game, so we’ve managed to take some money over the bar this weekend.”
Ivybridge were always expected to beat Wellington, but their play-off hopes were helped by Winscombe losing to North Petherton 31-14.
It means Ivybridge have moved up to sixth with one game to go.
The final play-off spot will be between them, Crediton and Winscombe. Seventh-placed Winscombe do have a game in hand, but that is against Tiverton, while they will play Ivybridge on the final day of the season. Crediton, who current sit in the final play-off spot, have the toughest challenge as their final match is an away fixture at unbeaten leaders Weston-super-Mare.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
PLYMSTOCK Oaks find themselves in serious relegation trouble after results went against them in Western West on Saturday.
Oaks were the only one of the bottom four teams in the highly-competitive league not to win this weekend.
There were beaten 69-16 away at leaders Wiveliscombe, while Newton Abbot beat second-placed Paignton 45-31, Penryn overcame fourth-placed Truro 29-20 and Saltash saw off fifth-placed Redruth II 39-24 at Moorlands Lane.
Third-from-bottom Oaks are now just two points above both Penryn and Saltash, who still have to play each other. Penryn also have a game in hand – against Torquay Athletics – but that is not scheduled to be played until May 11, which might not be helpful for anyone.
Oaks battled hard in the first half at Wiveliscombe and scored tries courtesy of Charlie Dutton and Dan Jewell, but Wiveliscombe pulled away after the interval.
“We had nine first-year senior players playing this weekend,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis. “Twelve of the squad were 19 or below, while three of the squad were over 40.
“It was one of those days where we have gone away when we couldn’t field a second team as we had 50 players unavailable for whatever reason.
“We have given a few young lads a game and they were brilliant.
“We were far better than the scoreline suggests – and you can ask them and the referee. However, they still beat us by a margin.
“We had a fair few penalties and our maul was dominant, but we just couldn’t hit a line-out. Their pitch is so undulating and the wind was howling and we just kept missing line-outs.
“Every time we had a maul we would maul them 10 or 15 metres, but we just could hit the line-outs to get it.
“We had loads of young lads there who haven’t played senior rugby and they did fantastically well, but as a team we just slipped off too many tackles.
“Where frustrated as we knew we were better than we were; frustrated as we knew we could get more out of the game and frustrated as we needed it and wanted it but just couldn’t reach it.
“The scoreline suggests we were miles worse, but we were pretty close.”
He added: “I think there was more hope rather than expectation this weekend.
“We only changed four or five from last week and we played fantastically well last week.
“It was just that little bit of experience we were missing.
“But the positive was Alfie Upton came back from injury. He’s been out for nine weeks. Harvey Searle came up from the colts. He’s a 15 but played 13 and was man of the match – he was brilliant. Murphy Dobson started at nine and he’s a colt also and did really well. Harry Toghill moved to 10 as Patty (Lewis Paterson) is out for a couple of weeks and he was fantastic. Jacob Chapman was fantastic in attack and Jewell scored a try from 70 metres out.
“There were some fantastic bits to the game, but we just didn’t do it for longer than five minutes at a time, which was the problem.”
Saltash have given themselves renewed hope of staying in the league after beating Redruth II 39-24 at home on Saturday.
However, like Oaks, they would have been a bit frustrated to also see Penryn and Newton Abbot win.
The battle to avoid finishing in the bottom two places is certainly hotting up and it is probably going to take at least 45 points to stay out of guaranteed trouble.
Saltash, though, do seem to be finding some form at just the right time.
They deservedly beat Redruth II on Saturday with an excellent team performance in windy but dry conditions.
They got a strong start with the wind at their backs and Ryan Cruickshanks crossed the visitors line in the second minute after receiving a pass from Greg Eatwell to touch down. Scrum-half Jack Pritchard added the conversion
Three minutes later another break by full-back Cruickshanks resulted in their second try which was also converted.
Redruth came back and put pressure on the home side, but the Saltash defence held firm and the lead was further increased when Pritchard kicked a penalty to make it 17-0.
More Redruth attacking led to a try by Kaiden Carne after 25 minutes as they threatened to get a grip on the match.
But a surging break through the visiting defence by Will Morton further increased the Ashes advantage with their third converted try which gave them an interval lead of 24-5.
The second half saw Redruth pressing hard and only great defending kept them at bay before Morton again went through on the right wing for a try for Saltash.
The Redruth forwards were taking control as they took advantage of the conditions, and two quick converted tries courtesy of Bailey Williams and Carne closed the gap to 29-19 and introduce some tension among the home supporters.
The game continued to be evenly contested until Steve Hillman suddenly scored for the Ashes on 76 minutes and this was quickly followed two minutes later when Morton scored his hat-trick after a good pass from Cruickshanks which put the result beyond Redruth.
However, the visitors did claim a consolation try courtesy of Jarrod Hambly in the final minute to secure a bonus point.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
DEVONPORT Services II moved another step closer to the Counties Two Devon title by beating a hard-working South Molton side 48-22 at home on Saturday.
The win keeps Services II nine points clear with just three games to go.
But South Molton did give them a shock by taking the lead after just 30 seconds when lock Matt Hurrell picked up a dropped ball and ran in from 22 metres.
Services II, though, hit back straight away with Fin White scoring following a tap penalty and Aiden Taylor adding the conversion.
The home side then scored three unanswered tries to take control of the game, although all were unconverted in the wind.
Sam Fincham scored two within seven minutes, including finishing off a great length-of-the-field break.
Toby Knowles then scored on the left after some impressive play by lock Kyle Felton.
Winger Reid Allen pulled a try back for South Molton but Billy Sutton scored in first half injury-time after Knowles had just been stopped short to make the half-time score 27-10.
Knowles scored again right at the start of the second period before South Molton had a lot of possession and territory and scrum-half George Down deservedly got a try to cut the gap.
Jake Cook then secured them a deserved bonus point with their fourth try, but Services II did finish strongly.
Cam Donkin powered over from close range for Services’ seventh try before young centre Elliott Pocknell scored a stunning individual effort late on. He broke and then chipped the ball over the last man before kicking the ball forward again and just touching the ball down before it went dead.
However, second-placed Honiton are making sure Services II cannot afford to slip up.
They beat Ivybridge II 43-15 on Saturday.
Ivybridge had travelled to east Devon hoping to cause an upset to boost their hopes of a great escape, but it was not to be.
They did score three tries courtesy of Hamish Harris, Cal Law and Josh Measor, but they just could not get a fourth to at least return with something.
“It was a good game for an hour and then it got a bit scrappy,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“We went into our shells a bit and they ran in a couple.
“We almost got something out of it with a fourth try, but it wasn’t to be.
“We are still staying positive as if certain results go our way and we pick up a couple of wins we’ll be okay.”
OPMs are the team that Ivybridge II will now have their eyes on after the Old Boys dropped into the bottom three after losing 80-7 away at Withycombe on Saturday.
It was OPMs’ fifth league defeat in a row and leaves them anxiously looking over their shoulder.
They are nine points ahead of second-from-bottom Ivybridge II with three games to go. However, the sides have to play each other on April 11 and that game at Cross-in-Hand could be crucial to who does finish in the bottom two.
Tavistock have pulled away from the danger zone in the last month or so. They moved up to eighth in the table on Saturday by beating Crediton II 36-7 at Sandy Park.
It was Tavistock’s third win in four league games and came courtesy of tries from Jack Easton (2), Will White, Vaughan Glover, Chris Watts and Toby Teague.
Tavistock did most of the damage in the second half after changing ends 10-0 up.
“We have always owned our defeats, but I think this week it would be nice to own our victory, as we did really deserve it,” said a delighted Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.
“I am dead chuffed.
“Crediton didn’t give up at all, but we looked pretty sound the whole game apart from one blip which gave them seven points.”
He added: “It has boosted us, but now we have a tough task in going to Bideford. I said to the lads after the game ‘you can’t now think that is job done, because it is not’.
“We have to go to Bideford and target points up there and then we have South Molton and we have to target points there.
“We have to try and squeeze everything we can from every game as it could slip away pretty easily.
“But we were fantastic this week. I am so proud of the guys.
“Straight from kick-off we played at a hell of a pace, which is something we had been working on.
“We also did a defensive session again this week as we want players to enjoy defence, which they did this week.
“We had two colts who stepped up and made their first starts, but if you asked someone on the sideline who our colts were, no-one would have picked them out as they were both outstanding.
“Everything sort of clicked this week.
“Crediton were not easy to break down – we had to work hard – but for once we really earned it.”
It was an emotional day at Sandy Park on Saturday as the club paid tribute to their under-11 player Raife Ellis, who sadly died after suffering a brain embolism.
“It has had quite an impact on the whole club,” said Puttock.
“We had a minute’s silence for him. We had the under-11s, the colts and Okehampton colts and the first teams taking part.
“It was massive and shows there is more to rugby than what goes on just on the pitch.
“It was a truly lovely thing to see. Every single player and every single fan came together.
“I know that Tavistock football club also had a minute’s silence and rugby clubs around the county also had one. It has been really heart-warming to see the love and support from the wider rugby community.
“There is more to rugby than just winning on a Saturday.”
COUNTIES THREE DEVON SOUTH & WEST
TAMAR Saracens returned to winning ways as they beat Plympton Victoria 53-14 at the Parkway on Saturday.
Alex Isreal (2), Adam Cotts (2), Harvey Tucker (2), Blake Smith, Tommy Windeatt and Rikki Lennon scored their tries, with Chris Barratt and Jack Higglestone touching down for Plym Vic.
“The boys did well to be fair,” said Tamar Saracens’ injured captain Adam Corbett. “They all played as a team and it was nice to get the win after last week’s result (against Old Techs).
“It was a good performance from the lads, especially with Mark Rennie, Joey Pook and Marc Cioffi stepping in to make the numbers up. It was good.
“We lost a few through injury and had a few unavailabilties and they said if we needed them to help out they would. It was nice to still have that connection where boys are happy to come to help. It was appreciated.
“Plym Vic turned up and they battled and kept going and scored a couple of tries, so fair play to them. They have certainly improved.”
Isaac Blasdale looked like he was going to add an extra try for Sarries after breaking from just inside his half, but he just ran out of legs right in front of the tryline.
Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt said: “We were scrapping a bit this week as we had players unavailable or injured, but the lads did really stick at it well.
“We started with one sub, who was Kevin Jefferies at 55, and he had to come on after about 15 or 20 minutes and play the best part of an entire game.
“And we ended up playing the majority of the second half with 14 players as we just got injured out of it.
“They (Tamar Saracens) had great numbers and they played well.
“We got a couple of tries which was nice.
“The lads really stuck at it and I was pleased for them. I am now glad we have a couple of weeks off as a few guys did get knocked about a bit.”
Old Techs did not have a match this weekend, while both Plymstock Oaks II and Plymouth Argaum handed opponents home walkovers.
Oaks II were due to travel to runaway leaders Brixham II but were just unable to get a team due to injuries and unavailabilities.
And it was a similar story for fifth-placed Argaum, who pulled out of visiting second-placed Paignton II.
“It’s frustrating,” admitted Argaum head coach Dean Avery.
“We’ve been building slowly throughout the season with great results on the pitch.
“But with so many lads away with the geopolitical climate, others returning from injury and our juniors coming through next season, my narrative has been about success next season – but the lads seem to have forgotten we have still got a job to do this season.
“I am very disappointed with the commitment, but hold some of the blame myself.”
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II were beaten 81-43 in a try-fest away at Camborne School of Mines.
Gallery from Devonport Services v Marlborough
Gallery from Devonport Services II v South Molton
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