The report.
We have played Topsham II twice in the league this season and won both reasonably easily, certainly the second one.
I think we would expect to win, but the margin is less certain.
The pitch was damp following daytime drizzle, but the evening was dry.

For the third time in a week with the firsts and seconds, the start did not go well; they scored inside two minutes and converted. 0~7, when Joe Cage went in under the crossbar.
Minutes later, Toby Moss put over a penalty, 3~7.
Eight minutes on we had pulled ourselves together and driving down the
pitch, we won a penalty, went for a lineout and the forwards drove reasonably easily for the line on the stand side with Ethan Hilland being driven over by a host of his mates in the pack. Toby Moss converted and we had the lead at 10~7.
A couple of minutes later, Topsham got to our line and over but the referee announced “Held up”, We kicked out down the middle of the pitch, Callum Robertson caught it and ran it back, a couple of passes later and some weak tackles, they went in under the crossbar for an easy seven points. 10~14.

This stung the players somewhat, and we came back hard at them with two tries inside five minutes, Henry Gascoyne took a close in lineout and, with the maul went over with the Topsham forwards doing their best to scupper our drive. The conversion missed. 15~14 and we had retaken the lead, next Ewan Piercy ran in to score, we had been attacking on the stand side, Toby Moss a good run then Luke Stannad when he was stopped the ball went left via Aiden Taylor and to Cam Donkin, I could see that for a second Cam thought about going himself but with a Topsham player with a half a hold on him he saw Ewean Piercy outside and in the open, a good pass out and the score was made. The conversion was missed and we had a bit of a lead at 20~14,
Three minutes later Topsham put over a penalty to close the gap again. 20~17.
“We need to tighten up”, I muttered to myself.
On thirty seven minutes, scrum to us was pushed back by Topsham, but we got the ball away = and attacked first right then back and to Elliott Pocknell, he ran in, their No 10 tried to get his ankles, but his momentum took him over with a nice looking dive. Again the conversion missed. 25~17.
Three minutes later, we scored again at the same spot with Nathan Todd touching down after a strong run in from their twenty-two. Three defenders failed to stop him. The conversion missed. 30~17.
Just as has halff time was about to blow, what was, for the first time in the game, a comfortable lead, was cut with a try by prop Nico Ferranti. It followed a bit of chaos, with no one able to take control of a bobbling ball they had kicked high to us. With each attempt, it went closer to our try line with Nico able to touch down as it went over the line. 30~22.
So, we had a real end-to-end game, with Topsham II on top in the scrums, both sides doing well in their lineouts, but with Topsham able to pull something back just when we looked to be breaking free.

After the interval and a probable taking to we really did take control, and when the backs and forwards were in full flow, the passing and supporting was a joy to see and you could see why we are top of the league, we do attack very smoothly and fast with it.
The score rose quite quickly, and with it Topsham looked as if they realised the chances of winning had gone.
First Nathan Todd scored his second and as a team effort, the best try of the game. The attack started down the stand side, tight to the side lines, at least three players took it on one after another, when tackled they made the ball available without any noticable pause in the flow, finally stopped near the corner flag, school end, it just as quickly went inside a couple of time for Nathan Todd to be the prize winner, the conversion by Matt Neyle went over. 37~22.
Topsham’s fortunes were not helped by a yellow card.
Four minutes later Elliott Pocknell scored his second. We won a scum on the standside in their half, despite being pushed back, we got the ball away for it to end with Elliott, who had a clear run in despite a disparing ankle tap dive by a defender, to score near the groundsman’s hut. Matt Neyle converted. 44~22.
Eight minutes later, the win was sealed with a Leighton Stark try and conversion, we were now 51~22 up and with a couple of minutes to go plus a few minutes of injury time.
Then one of the really stupid moments that could have won the Dick-of-the-Day at any club.
They had won a penalty on about halfway club house side, one of our team said something to the referee, who took us ten yards back, then another comment was made and yet another ten yards we were marched, by now their penalty was just inside our twenty-two, and it was easy for them to kick for a five yard lineout with certainty, which they did, a simple throw in and take, we defended their maul well but then they popped it out blind and No8 Fin Clacket had little trouble diving in for an unconverted try. 51~27.

Not long afterwards, the referee blew for full time.
The final score to them never troubled the clear win, just a bit of ill discipline that in a tight game, could leave us with a loss.
Great joy at the win, naturally. After the tunnel, the medals were presented by the genial Simon Fuller, the Devon Chairman. Dickie Duffield appeared with three bottles of something bubbly, which, after a short delay trying to get the last cork out, was sprayed all over the players to cheers and the cup being lifted by Ethan Hilland.
Three more league games to go.

The Team.
1. Louis Tout. Clarity Wealth Management.
2. Ethan Hilland. SDS.
3. Cam Donkin. SIPPS.
4. Nathan Todd, We remember submariners.
5. Jake McKenzie. Plymouth Sparky.
6. Finn White.
7. Henry Gascoyne.
8. Ethan Millard. Vessel Social Work services.
9. Billy Sutton. Plym Pat testing.
10. Aiden Taylor. Market to Media.
11. Toby Knowles.AMH Building and Renovations.
12. Elliott Pocknell. We remember Submariners.
13. Ewan Piercy. Media Bulldog.
14. Toby Moss. Identity Fashions.
15. Luke Stannard.Nordic installations.
16. Josh Martin. JML bricklaying.
17. Tom Richards. Buddha Utilities.
18. Al Thomas.
19. Ben Whysall.
20. Charlie Over.
21. Leighton Stark.
22. Matt Neyle.
TR. Warren Weerakoon.

The Management.
Dickie Duffield, esq
Steve Hilland.