PLYMSTOCK Oaks have been relegated from Counties One Western West after they lost 45-27 away at Torquay Athletic on Saturday, but Saltash could yet stay up after they beat Newton Abbot 34-19 at Moorlands Lane.
The Ashes had not been out of the bottom two all season, but they did just that on the final day after scoring six tries to come back from 14-5 down early in the second half.
However, they now face an agonising two-week wait for second-from-bottom Penryn to complete their fixtures.
Penryn’s hopes of staying up were hit on Saturday after they conceded a late try to lose 27-24 at home to Cornish rivals St Ives.
Penryn, who are three points behind Saltash, now have to beat Torquay away on May 9 to avoid relegation and condemn the Ashes to the drop.
But Saltash were just delighted they did what they had to do on Saturday and have given themselves a big chance of staying up.
“Now we just have to wait and see what happens,” said Saltash’s director of rugby Steve Down. “Torquay away is a tough fixture for Penryn.
“It has been a tough season for us, but I am proud of what the players have done, especially at the end. We have given ourselves a chance.”
Down admitted the pressure was on the team to beat Newton Abbot.
“It really was,” he said. “And you could see the nerves in the first 20-30 minutes. They (Newton Abbot) did have all the ball and they were just keeping it. But our ‘D’ was superb during that period.
“We rushed what we were doing. When we got the ball, we were a bit too urgent and were making silly mistakes.
“A little bit more composure would have given us a better first half, but we knew what we had to do second half up the hill. It was really impressive.
“We dug in, we just got more composure and the players just enjoyed themselves.
“We said, just throw everything at it, just enjoy yourselves and don’t worry about it as you could see the stress.
“We played too much of their game in the first half, but then we started to move the ball around a bit and do what we do well.
“The set-piece wasn’t great for either side and it’s always a tough game without a full set-piece. But it was a good game and I really was proud of all of them.”
Down feels the Saltash side have grown during the season and they have finished with four wins out of their last six games.
“We have played some superb rugby,” he said. “But at times we have also made some silly mistakes. However, all those young lads out there have learned a lot this year.
“We played three or four seasons where it was just too easy, and they were not learning about physicality and what it takes to win tight games.
“But what they had done at training and the heart they have had in the last few weeks, just shows that they are capable of it and they really deserve to stay up now.”
Newton Abbot, who had a number of youngsters in their team, dominated the first 25 minutes and Saltash, who were without goalkicking scrum-half Jack Pritchard who was running the London Marathon, just struggled to get their hands on the ball.
The All Whites put phase after phase together but could not break through Saltash’s line.
And against the run of play, Saltash scored with their first foray into Newton Abbot’s 22 with young flanker Laurie Thomson going over in the left corner.
However, Newton Abbot finally broke through the Ashes defence on 32 minutes when Owen Mcleod scored following a 10-metre scrum to give them a 7-5 lead.
The visitors did dominate the scrums but struggled with their line-outs. They did come close to scoring right at the end of the first half, but they knocked on right on the line.
Yet Newton Abbot did get a second try straight at the start of the second half with Rhys Vaas scoring a converted try to make it 14-5.
But that seemed to kick-start Saltash into action and within three minutes captain James Moriarty scored in the left corner after a brilliant move started with opposite winger Will Morton on the right and heavily involving full-back Ryan Cruickshanks.
The visitors were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes in the 54th minute and Saltash took advantage of the extra man with hooker Fin Jones scoring in the left corner after great play by backs Cruickshanks and Greg Eatwell.
Youngster Dylan Davies had come on and he brilliantly added the conversion.
But Newton Abbot did hit back and regained the lead with Joe Frost scoring to make it 19-17.
However, on a hot day, Saltash used their speed and fitness to score three tries in the final 10 minutes to seal the win.
Experienced winger Morton got their all-important fourth in the right corner after Phil Eatwell had done well.
Then Greg Eatwell reacted quickly to a Newton Abbot dropped ball. He kicked it forward and won the race to gather it and score. Davies added the conversion to move Saltash two scores in front.
Morton then wrapped up the win with a good try in the right corner. After the match he then announced his retirement after 325 appearances and an incredible 330 tries for the Ashes.
But while there were celebrations at Moorlands Lane, there was heartbreak for Plymstock Oaks’ players, coaches and supporters at Torquay’s Recreation Ground.
Oaks have won eight of their 22 league games, which in many divisions, would be a comfortable mid-table finish, but in this season’s Western West they have finished bottom with 43 points.
Mike Lewis, who has been part of Oaks’ coaching team with Lewis Paterson, is hoping the club can use the disappointment to spur them on next season.
“It is a weird one as the club is in a great position as we have so many young lads coming through,” said Lewis.
“The colts/U16s won this weekend and the twos played really well and got another win. That’s great for the club going forward as the stronger those teams are the stronger the first team will be in the long run.”
Lewis felt injuries midway through the season really cost them.
“You can’t get nearly 20 injuries and keep a consistency of performance,” he said.
“The amount of changes we have had to make this year has been a little annoying. However, it has given so many players exposure to play first team rugby, and they now have the bug for it.
“Now those boys are pushing others for positions and so we are going to have two great teams next year.
“Granted, we wanted the first team to be in the league above, but, who knows, it might be a blessing in disguise. However, at the minute everyone is a bit gutted.
“The mood was a bit sombre after the game. Some of the younger lads are in their first season and are new into the team and, of course, it does mean something to them, but not as much as boys who have been there for five, seven or 10 years, who it really means a lot to.
“However, lots of those players afterwards said it would spur them on, and they really want a positive season next year.
“The chat is good already and I think we will have a great team for that league. The problem is, we have until September to keep thinking about it.”
On Saturday’s game itself, Lewis said: “We threw a couple of interception passes and they went 20 and 40 metres to score and there were a couple of opportunities where if we had just held our depth of passing, we would have scored.
“There were if, buts and maybes, but it was a hell of a game for a neutral and both teams really went for it. No-one left an ounce of energy out on that pitch.
“It was a great game to watch as it was end-to-end.”
Oaks did find themselves 12-0 down after just seven minutes with tries by winger Matt Butler and prop Aidan King.
Lewis Paterson cut the gap with a penalty before Ollie White touched down for the visitors’ first ty of the afternoon.
However, Torquay responded and took a 26-8 half-time lead with two converted tries by Ryan Hanauer.
The home side, who could yet finish fourth if they beat Penryn in their final match, then went 40-8 ahead in the second period with further scores from Jamie Blatchford and Morgan Alcock.
But Oaks did finish strongly and bagged a bonus point with touchdowns from Alex Chapman and Jack Tweadie (2) before Butler finished the scoring on the afternoon for Torquay.
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
TAVISTOCK have finished third-from-bottom after their 116-12 defeat to champions Devonport Services on Friday night and OPMs 26-7 loss at Crediton II on Saturday.
However, Tavistock should be safe as it is expected that only two teams will be relegated with only one Devon team coming down from Western West.
OPMs were always going to be up against it away at Crediton. The home side did not have a first team match and the Old Boys picked up a number of injuries last weekend and were also without Fred and Matt Smale.
However, they battled well at Blagdon but just could not come away with any points.
“We didn’t look bad at all,” said OPMs head coach James Digweed. “We threw the ball around and enjoyed it.
“I said at the beginning of the day that ‘there was no pressure on as we couldn’t change position in the league, so just go out and enjoy it’.
“It wasn’t a bad score, especially considering we were missing six or seven first teamers.”
Young scrum-half Will Mills scored OPMs’ only try at Crediton, continuing his good scoring form towards the end of the campaign.
“He has been fantastic this year,” said Digweed. “He had played on the wing from a young age, but we put him at scrum-half and I think he has had man of the match every time he has played nine. He has come on leaps and bounds this year.”
OPMs are now heading to Cyprus on Friday on an anniversary tour, where they will play two matches against teams over there and enjoy the delights of Ayia Napa.
Second-from-bottom Ivybridge II finished their season with a 62-24 away victory at Topsham II.
The Bridgers did have a strong team out again with James Cantin, Joe Owen, Tom Hancocks, Tom Scoles, Matt Grieveson, Seb Musgrave and Charlie Teague among their squad.
“We only had 20 available again this weekend so had to play the lads we had,” said head coach Steve Atkinson.
“Topsham had a few of their regular lads playing for their ones so it was a bit one-sided, but it was still a good game for about an hour. Then we just pulled away.”
Hancocks, Grieveson and Scoles all scored two tries apiece, while there were also touchdowns for Harrison Legge, Owen, Cantin and Owen Alps.
A report from Devonport Services II’s win over Tavistock can be found HERE.
COUNTIES THREE
OLD Techs ended their league season with a battling display against second-placed Paignton II on Saturday.
Techs were edged out 17-7 in a hard-fought contest, but they could still finish third if Tamar Saracens beat fourth-placed Torquay Athletic II next week.
Whatever happens, Techs will be the highest placed first team in Counties Three Devon South & West, with the other three sides in the top four all second teams.
Techs chairman David Evans said Saturday’s clash with Paignton II was a really competitive contest.
“They (Paignton) are a good side, to be fair, and a big side,” he said.
“We turned up and performed, but, on the day, they were just a little bit better than us.
“But we certainly held our own with them and I was really proud of the boys.
“We had the same intensity as last week and we had them in the scrum. We really did all right, but sometimes you just play against sides and you just have to say they are good and just a bit better on the day.
“They were very well-drilled and big, but we held our own with them.
“They are strong right across the board, but we stood up from one to 20.
“We really competed and our boys were up for it, which is positive moving forward for the cup final and next season.”
Billy Evans, who showed his versatility by playing at number eight, prop, scrum-half and fly-half during the game, scored Techs’ only try at Queen’s Park.
Fifth-placed Plymouth Argaum finished their campaign with a 34-7 away victory over Plympton Victoria.
Argaum were boosted by having many of their big ball carriers available for Dean Avery’s final league match as head coach.
Reece Goucher, Tom Mann, Stuart Giles, Ellery Jones, Rory McCarthy and Ryan Tunnicliffe scored tries for them, while Louie Ellison scored Plym Vic’s touchdown.
“It was a lovely day with the sun shining and the game was played in really good spirits,” said Avery.
“Everyone had smiles on their faces, which was nice to see.
“We had over 22 available this week and it was nice to have a team to pick from.
“All-in-all there were some good rugby.
“Reece Goucher played and it was really nice to have him back and he scored a cracking try from his own half.”
Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt said: “At the beginning of the season they beat us comfortably so we have improved the deficit against a good team.
“We played some half decent rugby, but our defence just let us down, we just weren’t quite up quick enough on their big runners.
“But we have improved on the result at the beginning of the season.
“We held them pretty well second half. The lads did well. We just have to keep some players and focus on next season and the cup final.”
However, Plym Vic did suffer a blow with forward Matt Vincent ending up in hospital with a suspected broken leg.
Plymstock Oaks II ended their league campaign with back-to-back wins after they beat Torquay Athletic II 54-27 at Horsham Fields.
Jacob Chapman scored a hat-trick of tries for Oaks II, with Jerome Davies bagging two and Sam Bancroft and Steve Eaton also touched down for the hosts.
Tamar Saracens claimed a third successive home win as they beat Totnes 34-19 on Saturday.
Rob Hall, Jacob Blasdale, Adam Coutts and Stef Harvey scored tries for the home team.
Sarries still have another home game to go when they host Torquay Athletic II next weekend.
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II beat bottom side Hayle 36-22 at Chapel Field.
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