IVYBRIDGE will have taken plenty of positives out of their performance against last season’s champions and current leaders Richmond on Saturday in Women’s Championship South One.
The Bridgers were eventually beaten 48-10 by Richmond, who were the top club in England for years before losing their Premier XV franchise.
Ivybridge really made their visitors work hard for their win in a full-bloodied encounter in front a good crowd at Cross-in-Hand.
However, the visitors, who had already beaten both Beckenham and Thurrock 58-0, showed why they are top of the league and unbeaten with some classy finishing.
Ivybridge trailed 29-5 at half-time but continued to battle right until the end.
They felt their effort deserved at least a bonus point, but unfortunately Richmond restricted them to just two tries, which came via Beth Plumpton and Mollie Pepper.
In NC South West (West), Devonport Services bounced back from their defeat at Newton Abbot last weekend by coming from behind to beat Truro 31-20 at Keyham on Sunday.
Services really had to weather a lot of pressure from third-placed Truro in the first half and at the start of the second, but they defended well and took their chances at the other end.
The Cornish side had dominated the first half but only led 10-5 at the break, with flanker Elizabeth Cameron scoring a breakaway try down the left wing for Services.
Truro increased their lead straight after the interval but then Services got going.
Lock Tanya Jones got their second try, which Amy Blaylock converted.
And as they game went on, Services pulled away and Cameron ended up with a hat-trick of tries, with Megan Musgrave also getting one. Blaylock finished the afternoon with three conversions.
The win keeps Devonport at the top of the table, but second-placed Newton Abbot have played two games less.
In NC3 South West (West) Saltash made it two wins out of two with 39-0 home win over Plymouth Argaum.
That followed on from a 45-0 away victory over Plymouth Albion in their last fixture.
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