DEVONPORT Services II celebrated winning the Counties Two Devon title by running in 17 tries to beat a makeshift Tavistock side 116-12 at the Rectory on Friday night.
Ninth-placed Tavistock had agreed to the Friday evening switch for the final league match even though it left them short of players.
They started with three forwards in their backline and Services II just tore them apart with their pace, passing and strong running.
Even the most ardent Services supporter probably wanted the referee to blow his final whistle earlier than he did, rather than playing added-on time, as by the end it was totally one-way traffic, especially with the home side bringing on fit-again speedster Harrison Coonick in the second half.
“It was pretty impressive,” said Services II player-coach Aiden Taylor.
“It was exactly what we asked for. We asked them to put on a performance – and that’s exactly what we got.
“It was always going to be difficult for them (Tavistock). We were gutted last week that we didn’t get our promotion party because of Dartmouth pulling out and so we felt like we needed to put on a performance to show that we have actually won the league.”
He added: “We have had an outstanding season.
“However, there is one more to go to get the treble (the Lockie Cup) and then it is roll on to next season and the league above with harder opposition.”
Tavistock, who had narrowly lost 26-20 at home to Services II at the start of the season, have not experienced a defeat of more than 100 points in recent memory and it might even be a record league loss for them.
“At the end of the day, they (Services) were that much better,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock afterwards.
“I did think we deserved a little bit more leniency when we did make the odd break, but hey-ho.
“We know they are a quality side, which is why they have won the league like they have and why we are where we are as well as we can’t get players to travel away. That is our big Achilles heel at the moment.
“This season has been hard work, but we’ve not gone down.
“We are rebuilding. The club took a hell of a pounding last season – and have taken a pounding this as well.
“We have to recruit. We do have some colts coming up, but we do lack bulk.
“We have got some quality lads, but we can’t get them all to travel away.
“We had two flankers playing in the centres and a prop on the wing. We then had a lad who had never played before coming on, whereas they probably had lads playing navy rugby or have played at a decent level.”
Will White scored both Tavistock’s tries on the night.
“He had a good game,” said Puttock. “Every time he got the ball, they had to work hard to stop him.”
The tone of the game was set from kick-off when Tavistock knocked on and Services scored from the resultant scrum with Toby Moss crossing on the right.
That try was followed quickly by ones from centre Ewan Piercy and hooker Josh Martin to make it 19-0.
The impressive White pulled one back for Tavistock in the 19th minute when he won the race to a kick forward, but Services instantly replied with Moss adding another from the restart.
Sam Fincham then added their fifth before Piercy got his second after Services switched play left after a line-out on the right.
Fincham then added his second after a great run by Cam Donkin, who had a big game for the home side.
That made it 47-7 but Tavistock did add a second just before the break when White scored a length-of-the-field interception effort.
In the second half, the gaps increased for Services to run through, and the tries just kept coming.
Moss bagged another couple, while Coonick came on and scored two, including a stunning one right through the middle.
Donkin got a try he deserved, while Fincham added another. Luke Stannard, Ethan Millard, Freddy Dover and Jake Mackenzie also added touch-downs, while Taylor ended the scoring with a drop-goal.
It was the second time Services II had scored more than 100 points this season as they also beat OPMs 101-0 in March, but Friday’s night’s victory was a record one since they were admitted into the league structure.
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