Having won their Devon SW Armada Merit table the threes went into the semi-final against Exeter Engineers.
This is our third game inside six days and to make it more difficult against another team of young and athletic students.
No one had any idea about the Engineers, never having played them before, but they arrived and ran out on to The Rectory to warm up looking, young, fit and efficient.

On a lovely summery day the game started.
From the kick-off off we got into their half and remained there for six minutes attacking them without luck, good defence holding us out. The first try came on seven minutes after we had a ‘not straight’ in a lineout in their half. from it they ran at us, their runner lost the ball midfield but it must have gone backwards because their supporting player picked it up and ran in avoiding some weak tackling attempts. The conversion missed the nearside post by as much as the posts were apart, a long way.
The try really fired them up and they started to run at us from all over the place, their running looked untidy, some of the players all arms and legs, but what they did do well was to make the ball available to the good support they gave each other.
A second try for them after twenty-two minutes after really good support play kept the ball flowing despite our tackling and it took them to 0~10 after the conversion was again missed. We had spent almost all those minutes in their half, they got into our half twice and scored twice.
We steadied the ship on twenty-seven minutes when they were pinged for crossing, we took the scrum about ten yards out from the posts and midfield, they were penalised for dropping the scrum and it was reset, we went down the blindside but could not get in so sent it back midfield where Sean Harrison took it ten feet out and was able to force his way over despite a number of defenders trying to prevent him, The conversion by Leighton Stark went over. 7~10.
In a breakout, they very nearly scored prevented only by a last-gasp tackle by Billy Sutton from which we won a scrum and kicked away.
They then scored a third try just before the halftime whistle to make it 7~15.
We were just on top in the scrums and more so as the game went on. In the lineouts, Ross Taylor was catching well.
In the mauls, they were much stronger and twice prevented us from possibly scoring from five-yard lineouts by forming quickly and driving us back as soon as the ball catcher landed.

The second half kicked off with us playing towards the turnstile end.
We kicked to them and they ran back at us putting the ball through a number of hands to score under the crossbar and convert. 7~22.
It was not looking good for us, in part because of having played twice before earlier in the week and some of the team being ‘Older’ than the young students, fitness might be the key. We were having to defend really well to keep them out.
But then Joe Rider scored when we won a midfield scrum and the ball going to the backs, with Matt Anstis popping up a short pass to Cieran Poat who got into their twenty-two before offloading to Joe Rider who ran in to score at the turnstile corner. The conversion by Leighton Stark going over. 14~22.
Then Joe Rider scored again after we won a five-yard scrum and got to their line but were held up. We won the second one and put the ball wide for Joe to run in on the right wing. The conversion was missed. 19~22.
By this time the previously joyous Engineers had lost their shape and were forced to defend, we, sensing a great comeback, stepped up a notch or two and took the game to them.
Sean Harrison scored his second from a five-yard lineout and attacking their line a number of times towards the midfield then sending it to the right wing where Sean was hovering, he had little difficulty getting over from close range, the sideline conversion missed.
We now had the lead on 24~22.
The Engineers were not quite done and took the lead back with a try close to the post but somehow managed to miss a simple conversion. 24~27.
It came after we messed around in our own twenty-two rather than kicking long and pushing them back into their own half to force them to start again.
That gave them hope and the lead to great cheering from both players and supporters.
It didn’t last long because Tom Mullen scored to give us back the lead, It came from a five-yard lineout when this time the forwards drove well, after the maul was eventually stopped and broke up the ball went this way and that and then to Tom Mullen That was converted by Leighton Stark, so 31~27 with six or so minutes to go.
Unfortunately they now only needed a try to snatch the win.
With the clock nearly out we won a scrum midfield then a penalty on their twenty-two, Leighton Stark took every second available preparing the kick then put it over. 34~27.
Now they needed a converted try to win, but they didn’t get it because shortly afterwards the referee blew for full-time.
The team had pulled off a great win after finding the drive in the second half, when we might have been expected to fade, to put the Engineers back into their box.

Meanwhile, up at Barnstaple the University of Plymouth 3s were playing Barnstaple III in the other semi-final, they lost so we will be playing Barnstaple III in the final of the David Butt trophy on the 27th of April up at Barnstaple.
Another really good afternoon with the boot for Leighton Stark.
Thanks to our enthusiastic sports therapists who turn up fair weather or foul to tend to the players, Steve, Phoebe, Emily and Ellie. Thanks.

The Team.
1. Sam Winfield.
2. Sean Harrison.
3. Tony Sibley.
4. Ross Taylor.
5. Jacob Prigg
6. Tom Mullen.
7. Spike Birch.
8. Finn Hosking.
9. Billy Sutton.
10. Matt Witcher.
11. Ciaran poat. (C)
12. Laird Whitford.
13. Joe Rider.
14. Dan Cooper.
15. Leighton Stark.
16. Jack Seviour.
17. Tony Polo.
18. Cameron Donkin.
19. Alex Hanson.
20. Kaff Simakoloyi.
21. Matt Anstis.
22. Joe Brearley.

The management.
Jim Moss.