Team Sheet
Dylan Watt, Henry Norrish, John Bud, Jacob Green, Oliver O'Neill, Billy Edwards, Jack Barwell (C), Dylan Davidson, Albie Rickard,
Tommy Roberts, Tristan Hill, Pierre Muzwidzwa, Inoke Naga, Freddie Shilton, Charlie Clements, Olly Wheatley, Harrison Orton

Debutants
Inoke Naga
Oliver O'Neill

Try Scorers
Jacob Green (1)
Jack Barwell (2)
Dylan Watt (1)

A long off season finally brought to a close. The boys were well up for this morning. They have shown huge commitment and discipline during the off season. A full four week break after the final victory of the 22/23 season to enable some well earned rest and recuperation was backed up with an extremely intense and comprehensive pre season fitness and team building programme. The lads coming together twice a week in between much needed holidays away really proving successful for the first game back for the new 23/24 Season.

A huge Devonport Services welcome to debutants Inoke Naga and Oliver O'Neill, although only a few weeks into their journey with Devonport they have gelled perfectly and are both already important members of the squad.

The weather was kind to us this morning, starting off somewhat grey and humid the rain Gods decided to have a morning off and left us with a dry morning to display some fine rugby.

A bigger pitch, 12 a side and now with the under 12's law set to abide by, the game that ensued in front of us was beginning to look a little bit like a forward pack and a back line!

OPM looking well drilled as they warmed up across the pitch, at times Devonport's focus was drifting over to the opposites teams warm up rather than concentrating on their own. However with some encouragement from the coaches the lads realised it was time to focus on their own game and not to worry about what the opposition were doing.

OPM kicked off the first of two twenty minute halves. Not afraid to use some of their big ball carriers they set out to break the Devonport defensive line. Step up Freddie Shilton a typical scrum half small in nature but with a dogged fearless attitude set the stall out early on with a huge hit on the OPM ball carrier. Quickly backed up by a couple of his rampant forward pack the move was stopped in its tracks.

The first ten minutes was extremely tight both teams giving as good as they got. Some hard lines being ran by Jack Barwell, Tommy Roberts, Tristan Hill and Olly O'Neill which helped to soften up a strong OPM defence. The dam finally broke after the ball was nicely moved along the back line some fine passing from Charlie Clements, Harrison Orton and Dylan Watt eventually leading to Jack Barwell breaking through and dotting down for the opening Try of the season.

Some courageous tackling from Henry Norrish kept OPM at bay and in the process he earned some hefty stud marks on his neck. The back three trio Pierre Muzwidzwa, Olly Wheatley and Albie Rickard had their work cut out covering some well placed clearance kicks from OPM, but work hard they did and they managed the back field well.

OPM managed to come back and delivered a well work try of their own, a try that involved most of their team lots of phases leading to a well worked backs try dotted down in the corner! "Game On".

The intense play continued and OPM could not break down Devonport's defence. Devonport making the most of their opportunities with two more tries coming before the half time whistle, Jack Barwell going over for his second and Jacob Green also touching down.

The half time talk was easy, keep on doing what you are doing. The score board was at at 15 points to OPM's 5. A few of the lads asked what the score was, nil nil came back from the coaches an outstanding first half that needed to be backed up by more of the same for the next twenty minutes.

The second half continued a lot like the first, some awesome tackles being put in and great battling at ruck time, John Budd putting in a shift and displaying encouraging displays of rugby after what was thought to be a bad ankle twist during the warm up.

Some great heads up running by Inoke "Noks" Naga releasing wingers out wide and extremely unlikely not to bag a try on his debut, OPM last ditch tackling managing to just get him in touch close to the corner, exactly the same happening for Oliver O'Neill, a galloping run on the fair side of the pitch only just coming short due to some fine defensive cover in the corner from OPM.

Billy Edwards experimented with at hooker during todays game, a good display and is beginning to read the game well. Deciding he doesn't like the feel of his chin strap from his scrum hat, it would appear we will have the first of our lads with the old school bandage and electrical tape around his head for the next game.

Charlie Clements played superbly coming on early for a winded Freddie Shilton, a like for like replacement his tackle rate was extremely high. After a good period of recovery and Charlie having emptied the tank Freddie had to come back on, his work rate and rush defence off the back of the scrums was immense and he quickly racked up double digits in the completed tackle stats.

A low scoring second half Dylan Watt finally breaking the drought with a classy and determined long range run, carving through a tired defence and turning on the after burners in the wide channel to outstretch and touch down on the line after a quality last ditch tackle from OPM.

A big mention to the OPM Coaching staff and supporters for their hospitality, and especially to the ref who produced a fine display allowing for a flowing game and managed both teams superbly.

Final whistle blown and Devonport took a hard earned victory. The boys set themselves a high bar today which they must endeavour to hit throughout all of their games during the remainder of the season. Proud Coaches, proud parents and delighted players.

All the lads put in a shift to be proud of this morning and you could see from their delight at getting a hard earned victory at the final whistle that they were proud of the work they had put in. Fine displays form all the boys which can so often go the other way on an opening game of the season. So much so that a Man of The Match could not be decided with such a strong team display.

A great start to the season, as always some points to work on at training, but everyone involved is champing at the bit to improve and GO AGAIN!!!