In the meantime, the scorers.
Try. Ollie Symons.
Half time, 11~5 to them.
Try. Liam Jarvis, converted by Sam Brown.
Try Tom Davies, conversion Sam Brown.
Try. Shaun Crawford, conversion Sam Brown

The Firsts.
1. Oli Symons. Greenlight Safety Consultants Ltd.
2. Rob Walsh. NESC Ltd.
3. James McFarlane. Armada Social Work Services
4. Matt Gregory (c). HSK Building Services.
5. Mike Rickard. Pon Nic properties.
6. Liam Jarvis. Steel Brew
7. Bertie Fordham. Accurocare, lifestyle choices.
8. James Hocking. Redmoor snacks
9. Richard Goldsby-West. (c). Smashland Burgers.
10. Sam Brown. Eden Clinic.
11. Charlie Groves. Journeaux accountancy
12. Dan Lilley. We remember submariners.
13. Shaun Crawford. Plym Pat Testing.
14. Tom Davies. Pantheon Plymouth.
15. Matt Neyle. Cherry plumbing and heating.
16. Harri Hayman.
17. Josh Martin. JML Bricklaying
18. George Pooley.

The Management.
Ben Russell.
Aiden Taylor.

The Second team report.

This is not going to be a minute-by-minute account, after the break, it slowly became rather one way, and it was difficult to photograph and also watch the play and record the buildup to tries.

Top against second in the league, we were expecting a close game, and the first thirty minutes were just that, both sides attacking and counterattacking. We did look sharper playing a very tight team game, with lots of supporting and passing. On one occasion, we made a very fast attack on a broad front with all hands on deck, as it were, but the last pass to the wing went in to touch.
But at last our efforts paid off and on thirty minutes we broke the deadlock, with Henry Gascoyne crossing near the street side post following a penalty to us and a five yard line out. The conversion missed. 5~0.
On thirty six minutes, Ethan Hilland was on the end of another fast attack, and took the last pass to score; this time the conversion by Ewan Piercy went over. 12~0.
Then, with half-time speeding in, Topsham scored in the corner. After a series of attacks that got really close to the try line, the action moved to the corner flag, then the Topsham scorer, apparently, managed to jump over a low ruck to score. A good sideline conversion was kicked make it 12 ~7.
Shortly afterwards, they added a second but could not convert. 12~12.
We nearly scored by the small clubhouse, but it was disallowed. It looked ok in the photo but may be there was an earlier forward pass or something.
Then Ben Wadham scored at the street side corner but could not convert. 17~12.
To end the half, Sam Fincham RN, as was, managed to skip through a couple of tackles close to the line to score. Ben Wadham converted. 24~12.
Thus far, the scoring reflected two sides playing quite evenly, with us showing as more dynamic and supportive of the ball carrier. The scrums were just about even with us just about on top at this point.
Both team lineouts were functioning well.

The second half very quickly became one sided, and I think the effort of defending took it out of Topsham, despite that they did keep trying to get back into the game.
Ethan Millard scored after breaking away from a crowd of players, he did a high chip over the defence, and had to really stretch to catch the ball, he did well to hold it and dive over to score.
Converted by Ben Wadham. 33~12.
Harrison Coonick, with terrific acceleration from halfway, went in on the training school side end, but the conversion was missed.

Andy 'Happy days' McBeath appeared, pulling a plastic wheelie bin. Some in the crowd speculated that he had been promoted to be in charge of the gash. It turned out he was simply concerned for the environment and was collecting the empties.

Topsham had a serious attack on our line, getting close on a number of occasions, but the defence was up to it, and we eventually won the ball and kicked clear.
The scrums were now starting to go our way, and on one just inside our twenty-two on the street side, we pushed them back seriously and stole the ball. It ended up on the left wing with Charlie Over; he sped down the sideline with Harrison Coonick on his shoulder in support. It was a fine sight, and the speed of the pair was impressive. He got close to the posts, and Aiden Taylor converted. 74~12.
The final score came after a five yard lineout on their line, decent runs by Tyler Busfield, Luke Stannard and Aiden Taylor took it close, and Sam Fincham made the score with Aiden Taylor converting. It took us to 81~12 at the final whistle.

For my part, what I thought was good was that despite the rising scoreline, we did not become a team of individuals trying to get on the score sheet but kept up our team togetherness.
Luke Stannard had a number of good runs; to me, he seems to have a very good sense of where to run to avoid the defence.
Freddie Dover had to pull out with a broken small finger, and Toby Moss, with a new leg tattoo he wanted to protect for a week, a tattoo that was much admired by a section of the crowd.
James Thorpe and Ben Wadham game in and both showed well.

One of the Topsham players had to go off after making a good tackle and was later taken to the hospital in an ambulance. We wish him well.

Scorers. I think the conversion kickers are right, all a bit of a blur towards the end.
5~0. Try Harry Gascoyne.
12~0. Try Ethan Hilland, Conversion Ewan Piercy.
12~7.
12~12.
17~12. Ben Wadham.
24~12. Try Sam Fincham. Conversion Ben Wadham.
Half time
31~12. Try Ethan Millard. conversion Ben Wadham.
36 ~ 12. Try Harrison Coonick.
43~12. Ewan Piercy. Conversion Ewan Piercy.
50~12. Try James Thorpe, Conversion Aiden Taylor.
57~12. Try San Fincham, Conversion Aiden Taylor.
64~12. Try Harrison Coonick. Conversion Aiden Taylor.
69~12. Try Sam Fincham.
74~12. Charlie Over.
81~12. Try and Conversion ~ unknown at the moment.
Full time

The Second team.
1. Ethan Hilland. Sustainability and Engineering consultants.
2. Ethan Millard. Vessel Social Work Services
3. Tyler Busfield. P.I.M. Financial Services
4. Aaron Duffield. Startup Marketing.
5. Kyle Felton. Plym Pat Testing.
6. Elliott Lupson. Jerry Josee and Ocean City Sounds
7. Henry Gascoyne.
8. Harry West.
9. Billy Sutton. Plym Pat Testing.
10. Aiden Taylor. Market Media.
11. Luke Stannard. Nordic Installations Ltd
12. Ewan Piercy. Median Bulldog.
13. Charlie Over. Roast coffee.
14. Sam Fincham. Severn Access Lts
15. James Thorpe.
16. Harrison Coonick. Ashwood Trees Ltd
17. Ben Wadham
18. Ben Whysall.
The Management.
Dickie Duffield. Esq.
Steve Hilland

Colts make the Final.
The Colts squeezed into the Devon Plate final by beating a strong Torquay side 31 - 26 at Keyham on a rare sunny day.
Ironically, it was a poor performance against Torquay at the start of the season that bumped us out of the Cup Competition.
We started well, moving the ball at pace and with forwards and backs linking to keep Torquay camped in their 22. This pressure continued for 8 minutes, but their defence kept us off the score sheet. Soon after, Torquay gained possession and a defensive mistake saw them slice through to touchdown under the posts, adding the easy conversion for a 0 -7 lead.
This lifted them, and they started closing down our attack with quick linespeed and organised defence. A few minutes later, we found ourselves under our own posts again after a well-read interception and another easy conversion.
0 -14
Both teams put some good attacking rugby together, but it seemed we were always the more dangerous in attack. Torquay were a big, strong side and played to their strengths, taking their chances well. A lineout mistake in our 22 gifted them an opportunity, and they rumbled over out wide to stretch the lead again 0 - 19.
So, here we were, 20 minutes in and 3 tries down, having had probably 80% of the possession and playing some great rugby.
There was no panic under the posts, but positive chat and a quiet belief that things would click soon.
It wasn’t long before they did. We got back into their 22, and after some good forward work, Harry Enticknap barged through some defenders but was judged to have lost control on touchdown.
We collected the restart, and after a blistering run from Harris Stewart, who was impressive all game, Emerson Andrews got the touchdown close in, Seth Stephenson adding the extras 7 - 19. Soon after, we were on the attack again and strong running Elyas Hall smashed through the defensive line to score wide out, 12 - 19.
Torquay, sensing a comeback, lifted their game and started using their big forward pack to good effect. Pinned in our 22, we missed an exit kick, and Torquay countered well. Our linespeed left a gap, and they took it to score near the uprights, extending the lead to 12 - 26.
Straight from the kick off, we were at them again. They started to look tired nearing halftime,e and we kept our tempo high. They lost possession, and after 12 well controlled phases of play combining forwards and backs, Harry Jones found the smallest of gaps to sneak in next to the uprights. Seth added the conversion to end the first half, 19 - 26.
Everyone needed a breath at halftime; this was a proper game of rugby between 2 good teams with a final at stake.
Both sides made multiple changes in the break with the Devon half game rule, but the tempo stayed high. Both sides threw everything they had at each other, and it was clear that the game was now about game management and defence.
We couldn’t give Torquay any more chances and had to be clinical with ours.
Seth kept them in their half with some punishing tactical kicking, and their frustration grew as the game went on. They gave away too many penalties, and eventually they got punished. Cosmo Searls grabbed the ball, took a quick tap and had smashed it over the line before anyone knew what was happening. Seth then hit the conversion to level it up at 26 - 26.

Things then started to unravel a bit for Torquay as the pace of the game started to tell on their big forwards, and soon after, they were pinned in their own 22 again under pressure. Quick hands down the blindside of a ruck saw Harris Stewart get a well deserved try in the corner 31 - 26.
With only 8 minutes left on the clock and one score in it, there was still a game to be won.
Torquay came at us with everything, big runners hitting hard and quick rucks, but there was no way through. We held them up over the line after 8 phases, and then in an incredible defensive set, we did the same again after 14 phases !!!
Just before the final whistle, they did cross the line again, but Cosmo ripped the ball off the Torquay player after a huge tackle to see out the game.
Final score 31 -26, and Exeter Athletic is waiting in the final.

Some games are a pleasure to watch, and this was one of them.
Everyone in the squad played their part, and this was by far our best performance of the season.
Notable performances by everyone in the squad but in particular

Seth Stephenson
Harry Enticknap
Harris Stewart
Will Pooley

Man Of the Match

Unbelievable work rate in all areas, but especially defence and an unmatched “ will to win”.

Cosmo Searls

Mole
The Colts v Torquay. Shield semi-final.
1. Tom Brown
2. ⁠Cohan Robinson RL Plastering
3. ⁠Kassim Shaibu
4. ⁠Will Pooley
5. ⁠Charlie Craven
6. ⁠Emerson Andrews (CC) Advanced Fire Protection (SW) Ltd
7. ⁠Cosmo Searl
8. ⁠Harris Stewart
9. ⁠Harry Jones
10. ⁠Seth Stephenson
11. ⁠Zach Sausse
12. ⁠Harry Enticknap (CC)
13. ⁠Elyas Hall
14. ⁠Liam Furze
15. ⁠Freddie Ticehurst
16. ⁠Rob O’Neill
17. ⁠Indy Knight
18. ⁠Alfie Follett
19. ⁠Guy Slavin
20. ⁠Max Pennington
21. ⁠Sam Gollop