DEVONPORT Services head coach Ben Russell was pleased with his side’s performance in a 31-19 home defeat to second-placed Luctonians on Saturday in National Two West.
Although it was an eighth successive loss that leaves them at the foot of the table, Russell felt his team showed what they can do against one of the favourites.
He hopes the performance will boost his team going into five consecutive fixtures against teams in the bottom half of the standings.
“We were good,” he said. “We fronted up and we put in an 80-minute performance.
“We couldn’t ask for anymore; the boys were fantastic, especially in defence.
“There were just a couple of times in attack, where we didn’t quite execute.
“I think we deserved to get two points out of it, but we got zero.
“Everyone just put it all on the line and we certainly could have come away with something better than we did.”
He added: “We said this is a new block in the season. We had the first seven games and we played five of the top seven sides.
“We’ve now had Luctonians who are up at the top, but now we have teams around us.
“We said we needed to put in a performance this weekend to build for the week after and the week after that.
“Now we need to get some wins in the next few weeks.”
Luctonians, who finished second last season, went 17-0 up after 27 minutes but Services, with a number of players returning after missing the Clifton match, pulled it back to 17-7 at half-time thanks to a converted try by winger Charlie Over.
The visitors extended their lead to 24-7 after the interval, but Henry Gascoyne pulled a try back before Luctonians added another.
However, Services refused to give up, and fit-again Liam Jarvis scored a third try with two minutes to go.
Devonport pressed for a fourth and the visitors had James Mear yellow carded, but Services ran out of time to get the bonus-point try.
Russell felt his forwards really stood up against a much bigger side on Saturday.
“Rob Walsh was cracking, Cal Arnold was cracking again, Lewis Woolaway played brilliantly, as did James Thorpe and Henry Gascoyne,” said Russell. “They literally just did not stop working.
“But everyone put it on the line and we did move the ball really well.”
REGIONAL TWO SOUTH WEST
IVYBRIDGE have moved up to second in Regional Two South West after they convincingly beat Winscombe 63-12 at Cross-in-Hand on Saturday.
The Bridgers have won five of their opening six games, with their only defeat coming away at Wadebridge.
On Saturday, they found themselves 32-0 up at half-time, with Adam Lilley bagging two tries and Angus Harris, Hamish Harris, Tom Hancocks and Jack Skinner also crossing the whitewash in the opening 40 minutes.
In the second period they extended their lead to 52-0 before Winscombe finally got on the board.
Ivybridge, however, did add five more second-half tries courtesy of Ed Foster, Angus Harris, Owen Garner, Harry Newman-Wild and Skinner.
“It was all done by half-time really as we scored six tries in the first half,” said Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson.
“But it wasn’t like we scored and scored and scored. We did have to work for them.
“That was probably what I was most pleased about – not just the amount of points we scored but that the lads had to work hard for the tries we scored.
“We were playing our systems and shapes really well and their backs just couldn’t handle our backs.
“I think they (Winscombe) had a couple of lads out and so they had forwards in the backs.
“We scored nine and then we had a player in the bin and they managed to get a couple of back, but we won’t worry about that.
“We’re happy.”
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
SALTASH are doing their best to repeat last season and keep losing games by just one single score in Western West.
On Saturday they were agonisingly beaten 38-36 away at Barnstaple II.
It was the fourth time in five defeats they had lost by a single score.
Having gone 33-21 points down early in the second half, they did come back and they thought they had snatched the victory at the death when they took a quick tap penalty and Ryan Cruickshanks made a dart for the line. However, unfortunately, he was ruled to have been held up and the Ashes had to settle for another two bonus points.
Despite only claiming one win so far, they are up to seventh in the table as they are averaging two points every match due to the amount of bonus points they are picking up.
Saturday’s fixture at Pottington Road was certainly entertaining for those there watching.
Saltash opened the scoring with a try from centre Greg Eatwell, which came from a line-out off the top move. Scrum-half Jack Pritchard added the extras to nudge his team in front.
Barum hit back with tries by Brendan Darley, Jack Barrow and Darcy Barker – the latter was scored while Saltash had fly-half Billy Dover in the sin-bin.
But once restored to the full complement, the Ashes upped a gear and scored a well-worked try through young full- back Henry Taylor. Pritchard added the extras to close the gap at 19-14.
The hosts kicked on again with another converted try by Baker, but Saltash pegged them back with a try from replacement flanker George Howlett. Pritchard added the conversion to make the score 26-21.
The game continued to be ding-dong. Finley Body added another for Barum before Cruickshanks scored from the wing position for Saltash. The ever-reliable boot of Pritchard made it 33-28 with the clock ticking away.
Again, the hosts scored courtesy of Darley, only for the visitors to close the gap to 38-33 with another try from man-of-the-match Taylor.
Pritchard then added a 71st minute penalty to close the gap to just three.
But the drama was not over, as with the last play, Saltash ran a tapped penalty from the halfway line and the ball went wide to Cruickshanks, who was just held up on the line to deny Saltash the spoils.
Saltash’s next match will be against Devonport Services II at Moorlands Lane.
Services II are still waiting for their first win of the season after they were beaten 53-24 at Keyham by second-placed Paignton.
Frustratingly, the home side did not even pick up a bonus point as they only got three tries.
Devonport were in the game for most of the match, but Paignton scored three quick tries near the end to make the match look far more one-sided than it was.
Services II impressed in the scrums and mauls, but Paignton’s backs were always dangerous and produced some good support play to run in tries.
Brad Lumley, Alex Hannah and Fin White scored tries for Devonport, with Leighton Stark kicking two conversions and a penalty.
Paignton had Brad McKee, Dewald Stoop, Maxim Cole, Edward Curry, Harry Davies, Harry Ward, Nyakallo Makate and Liam Cleaver scoring tries for them, with McKee kicking the extras.
“The twos is still not really near the team it should be, but what is good is that we are getting boys back now,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“We also got a third team out who went away to Crediton and did well before narrowly losing 24-15.”
COUNTIES TWO DEVON
UNBEATEN league leaders Plymstock Oaks picked up another five points on Saturday as they beat struggling Withycombe 50-20 away from home.
It was the fifth time in six games that Oaks had scored 50 or more points and it keeps them four points clear of second-placed South Molton.
Oaks managed eight tries in total at Raleigh Park, with three coming from scrum-half Harry Toghill.
They led 24-8 at half-time with backs Harvey Searle, Duncan Bibby and Toghill (2) scoring their tries.
In the second period, Lewis Paterson, Toby Moss, Toghill and Aiden Taylor added further scores for them.
Withycombe managed three tries through Joel Ranft, Finley Ivory and Jack Fear but Oaks dug deep to deny them a fourth.
“I have never gone up to Withycombe and had an easy game,” said Oaks coach Mike Lewis.
“They are always great up front and can grind out results and even if they lose they battle to the end. And that is what we got this weekend.
“They are never a soft touch and the first 20 minutes was tight and tough.
“But as we grew into the game, we got a few extra scores and it just put us that step ahead.
“However, towards the end, they came into it and they were on our line for the last five minutes as they were looking for a bonus point.
“Unfortunately for them, even though they were knocking on the door, we just had that little bit of extra quality and managed to get a couple of extra scores.”
He added: “We scored 50 points this week but came off the pitch with plenty of work-ons. We didn’t do the simple things consistently well.
“I think we just got a bit complacent at times. Instead of just doing the simple things well, we went off and tried something miraculous and allowed them back into the game a bit.”
It was a good week for the Plymouth Combination teams in Counties Two Devon as both OPMs and Tavistock also won.
OPMs are now up to fourth after they beat Bideford 34-12 away on Saturday.
That was their fourth win in the opening six games of the season.
Scrum-half George Fletcher scored two tries, with Matt Smale, Chris Wilson and Will Brooksbank also crossing the whitewash in north Devon.
“It was another performance backed up from the week before,” said head coach Davy McGregor.
“The boys are learning how to win rugby games rather than just go out and be off the cuff.
“We haven’t yet really beaten anyone above us, so that is the next challenge for us. But you can only beat what is in front of you.
“Some of the performances were really up there. Guys were just doing their jobs extremely well.
“George Fletcher at nine was outstanding. That control gives Matt Smale a different platform to play off. But that only comes from really good ruck speeds and the forwards playing well.”
He added: “Every win is great in this league. I’m happy because we are scoring tries and starting to nullify the opposition. We are also playing the referees really well and not trying to over play.”
Tavistock bounced back from their heavy away defeat to Plymstock Oaks last weekend by beating Exmouth II 18-16 at Sandy Park.
Andrew Schuttkacker and Logan Sulsh scored tries for the home side, with Freddie Fuller kicking the rest of their points.
“It was a good win,” said Tavistock head coach Leigh Puttock.
“We absolutely dominated the set-piece. They were walking backwards in the scrum in the first half. They brought on a prop in the second that almost calmed it down.
“But we had very good game management from our half-backs and forwards.
“Everything clicked again.
“Exmouth were fantastic and they really made us earn that.
“The pleasing thing for me, is that they (Exmouth) are a good attacking team but our defence was good.
“On Tuesday, I beasted them in defence and it paid off.
“As I previously said, if last week (against Oaks) had turned out to be a backward step it would have been a disappointment, but we drew a line under it and we were nothing but positive.”
Puttock was delighted with the whole team but had special praise for young lock Rory Cox.
“He was outstanding again,” said Puttock. “The amount of ball carries he does and the amount of tackles he does just wows everyone. For me, he is a future first team captain.”
COUNTIES THREE
SEVENTEEN-year-old Bayley Fisher scored his first senior try as Old Techs beat Ivybridge II 24-23 at Weston Mill to move to the top of Counties Three Devon South & West.
Both sides went into the top-of-the-table clash with 100 per cent records from their opening five matches.
But it was Techs that deservedly claimed the victory on Saturday.
Techs, despite missing the likes of Josh O’Hare, Ryan Smith, James Bothma and Reece Boase, were really up for the game and never allowed Ivybridge any time to settle.
The home team led 16-9 at half-time and then extended that to 21-9 in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Their advantage should have been greater, but they had one try ruled out, where held up over the line on two other occasions and knocked on when they looked certain to score.
And Ivybridge did come back at them in the closing stages and they snatched a losing bonus point with a converted try with the last play of the game after the home side had picked up two yellow cards.
But Techs were just pleased to have won the game to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
“We certainly deserved it,” said Techs’ Shaun Bedford-Smith.
“It was a bit disappointing at the end that they got a try to get a losing bonus point as I felt we had done enough to maybe not give them anything.
“But fair play to them, they kept going and we were probably tiring a bit as we had put a lot into the game.
“The players did exactly what we asked of them before the match, which was to just go out and play with intensity, take the ball to them, be physical and ‘D’ up.
“The first half was some of the best rugby I have seen us play and I really enjoyed watching it.
“I thought we were on top in the first half and probably for 70 per cent of the game.
“In the last 10, they were coming back into it and we were giving away penalty after penalty for silly things because we were tired. We got two yellow cards for high tackles, but at the end of the day we have come away with a ‘W’ and are still unbeaten.
“I think most people probably thought they were going to come down here and turn us over.
“We now move on to Plym Vic next week and we have talked about not letting our levels drop.”
What also delighted Bedford-Smith is that they included two 17-year-olds in their squad on Saturday for such a big game
“We are bringing young lads in and trusting them to play in games like that,” he said.
“We had two 17-year-olds in the side but we also have some guys in their 40s, so we just have a really good mix at the moment.”
Ivybridge head coach Steve Atkinson was not too disappointed by the result.
“It won’t define the season,” said Atkinson. “We lost against Brixham II twice and still got promoted.
“It sounded like a good game, but that they were just more up for it.
“I was proud of the boys that they brought it back and got a bonus point. We were really happy with that.”
Ivybridge did include the likes of Seb Musgrave, Marcus Prout, Ben Winters, Giles Clark and Eden Quantock in their side, but it was Techs that came flying out of the blocks.
They pressed Ivybridge’s line from the kick-off, but the visitors did defend well.
However, Techs did get off the mark when Sam Matts kicked a penalty on seven minutes.
That was cancelled out on 14 minutes by one by Luke Martell, although there was some controversy over whether it did go between the uprights, even though the officials gave it.
Both teams were struggling with their line-outs in the first half, but Techs continued to have the better of the game.
It looked like teenage winger Fisher had scored a sensational try in the 20th minute with a break and a kick and chase down the wing, but the officials deemed that an Ivybridge hand touch the ball first.
However, Techs did increase their lead with another Matts penalty two minutes later before player-coach illy Evans was held up over the line after some intense pressure.
The home side just could not get the try they threatened, but they increased their advantage to 9-3 with another Matts penalty on 35 minutes.
But Martell kicked two of his own within six minutes to level the match.
The game had been held up for a lengthy stoppage due to a head injury to Prout and deep in injury-time Techs did finally get the try they had been threatening when Evans forced his way over following a tap penalty. Matts converted to make it 16-9 at the break.
That became 21-9 in the ninth minute of the second half after Fisher scored a stunning try. He somehow avoided a host of defenders to get over the line for a memorable first senior league score.
Techs then wasted a golden opportunity with Fisher and Evans involved again. Evans just had to pick up a ball a metre from the line to score, but he was just unable to gather it.
Ivybridge had Musgrave yellow carded mid-way through the second half and Martell missed with a long-range penalty attempt while he was off the field.
But once they were back up to a full compliment, they did start to get going a bit.
Winters scored from close range in the 68th minute to make it 21-16.
However, Matts settled Techs supporters’ nerves with a successful penalty on 71 minutes to move them two scores in front.
In the closing stages Ivybridge threw everything at Techs to try and get a try that would not only get them a bonus point but might give them a chance of winning.
Techs had Jamie Gurnell yellow card before they held Ivybridge up over the line.
Techs were then reduced to 13 players deep in injury-time after picking up another yellow card and with the last play of the game Ed Lewis forced his way over for Ivybridge to secure them a valuable bonus point.
Tamar Saracens stay in fourth place after they beat Kingsbridge II 53-17 away from home.
It was Sarries fifth win in six games.
Lew Swatton led the way for the Parkway side with a hat-trick of tries in the South Hams, with Rikki Lennon bagging two and Lewis Stuart, Stefan Breedt and Isaac Blasdale also touching down.
“It was a good win,” said Tamar Saracens’ Pete Lethbridge. “To be fair to Kingsbridge, they had quite a good side out.
“We started off a little bit slow and had a few call offs in the morning so we only went up with 18, which was a bit disappointing.
“It ended up a bit of a mix-and-match team.
“But it was a good bonus point win and it’s not an easy place to come.
“It’s always good to get a bonus point win away from home.
“Scrummaging went well but the line-out was a bit hit and miss.
We scored some really good tries, but conceded some soft ones when we were tired, so still things to work on.”
Plymouth Argaum suffered heart-break as they were beaten 37-36 away at Totnes, who had Harry Laity kicking a last-gasp penalty to claim the victory.
Argaum will be kicking themselves as they were 19-3 up and 26-10 ahead in the first half.
They did go 34-26 down after picking up a yellow card but Jake Turfrey scored a try under the posts which he also converted go make it 34-33. He then kicked a penalty to put them 36-34 ahead with time almost up.
But they were unable to hang on and gave away a penalty that the experienced Laity kicked to win the match for Totnes.
Argaum did return with two bonus points, but they will know it should have been five points.
As well as Turfrey scoring, they also had debutant Matt Lamont, Dan Smith and Reece Goucher bagging tries.
Plymstock Oaks II made it three wins in a row as they beat neighbours Plympton Victoria 48-24 at Horsham Fields.
Plym Vic, though, did score four tries for their first point of the season, which moves them off the foot of the table.
Connor Thomson and Daniel Rosson both scored twice for Oaks II, with Jerome Davies, Josh Waters, Ed Coombs and Jacob Chapman also touching down and Murphy Dobson kicking four conversions.
Daniel Ball, Jimmy Bore, JP Browning and Marcus Henderson made the scoresheet for Plym Vic, with Ollie Pile kicking two conversions.
“It’s our first points and lifts us off the bottom, which is nice,” said Plym Vic chairman Chris Hunt.
“We are just looking to continue to make those improvements.
“The lads got a few tries this week, which is pleasing.
“We were a bit short of numbers but they stuck to their jobs.
“It was a game of two halves. I think they were 40-7 up, but I think they took their foot of the pedal a bit and allowed us to play a bit of rugby.”
In Counties Three Cornwall, Saltash II were beaten 59-14 at home by Camborne School of Mines.
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