Royal Wootton Bassett at home. Up there, the result was similar, 19~50.
The game was moved to Keyham, for some reason, I think due to the ground staff not being able to roll the Rectory because it was a bit damp. Whatever, in the end we had a good game.
No one expected an easy game, and so it started to look that way. They looked as if they were used to playing on 4G and enjoyed it, throwing the ball around everywhere and looking good with it.

This was a game of two parts. For most of the first half, we allowed them to run at us and it was not till the last fifteen minutes that we were able to put them on the back foot.
We won the second quarter with a steamrolling display of open fast rugby that took us to a decent lead
In the first half, we allowed them to run at us and score a seven-pointer inside two minutes.
The first try came when they caught our kick off and kicked to touch just inside our half. We won the lineout, the ball went to the backs, but a short pass was deemed forward, they won the scrum from it and broke just inside our half and went in under the crossbar, then converted. 0~7.
We did come straight back at them with a more complicated set of moves and passes for Liam Jarvis go in with his shirt tail at full stretch from a defender. The normally successful kicker, Sam Brown, pulled the kick left, and it just missed the post. After five minutes, 5~7.
On fifteen minutes we got close to their line a number of times but they defended well and we were penalised after a short while, From the scrum they broke slowly out getting to half way, Then one of their forwards, I would say, broke away from the group of players, and set off for the try line, He was tall and running like a second row forward, clearly not a sprinter, with our very fast backs I thought he is never going to make it, but he did really well and on he went and further still till he reached the posts and dived over. What happened to our defence, I will never know. The conversion was easy, and we were 5~14 down after fifteen minutes.
Then on twenty minutes they won a simple penalty, which was kicked to make it 5~17.
With the game not going our way, to be fair to our team, they bucked up and started to take the game back to the visitors from Wiltshire.
Then on the half hour, we scored after a few nice passing moves. This started on the right wing on halfway, the ball went neatly down the line, then to Olly Symons who had a super run fending off a couple of defenders, then to James Hocking who ran well to get within three feet of the line before being tackled. Fortunately, Olly Symons hadn’t stopped for a breather after his run but had followed up and was able to take the ball from James and dive over under pressure to score.
Sam Brown converted and it was 12~17 to them.
Right on half-time, we went for a five-yard lineout, took it and went to maul for the line, but their forwards were really well prepared and drove us further back, then somehow Sam Brown appeared on the blindside and dived for the line, one defender holding his ankles and one on his back but he made the touch down. With his conversion scuffed and not reaching an altitude of more than six feet, we had pulled the game back to 17~17 at the break.
This last fifteen-minute period saved the day for us, getting us in the groove for further things in the second half.
We were on top in the scrums and they were better, on the whole, in the mauls. Our lineouts were not as good as normal; a couple of times we threw long and couldn’t take the ball, but over the game it was good enough.
Both sides were playing fast and furiously and making the most of a fast artificial pitch; it was entertaining to watch.

The second half saw us playing towards the railway bridge end.
Three minutes in, we had a scrum, they, for once, pushed us a little, but we got the ball away to the back with Sam Browen and Dan Lilley making good ground, then passing out to the left wing Billy Orchard who sped down the side line with a couple of hand offs and in to the corner for the fourth try. Sam Brown converted a difficult one. to make it 24~17.
From the restart, the backs took it on with a strong run deep on the right wing, then along the line to the left, Charlie Groves took it on down the sideline and to the corner where the previous try had been scored, our fifth try. From about six feet outside the twenty-two and only three feet in, Sam Brown converted it to raise the scoreboard, if we had got one, to 31~17.
We were looking good at this point five minutes into the half.
Next we went for a lineout but after throwing long and not taking the ball, they took the ball and ran at us and got halfway across our twenty two before losing it, Shaun Crawford broke away getting deep into their half, chipped the rushing defence, he was able to retake it and inside their twenty two turned two of their defenders inside out to score number six under the crossbar. Sam Brown converted. 38~17.
At this point, I was losing track of the score, which was rising so fitfully, but the seventh try went to James Hocking, who was following up a great break by Matt Gregory, and he scored, again under the crossbar.
Sam Brown converted. 45-17
On nineteen minutes they scored, they kicked for a short lineout, took the ball and mauled, without hesitation, with three forwards breaking off for the final, almost unopposed drive at the line. The conversion was a simple one and they increased their score to 45~24.
Our next score came on the half hour from a lineout on the street side, the ball went down the line ending with Harrison Coonick, who, to start with, was under pressure but he wriggled free and did his trademark acceleration getting to the line ahead of the defence and was able to run behind the posts to score try number eight. The Sam Brown conversion was simple.
52~24.
Then in the opinion of at least one other supporter, one of our best periods. They needed another try to get the bonus point, and did they try hard.
They got to our line with six or seven minutes to go, and they attacked and attacked from short range, they won three or four penalties but still we held them back, a couple of minutes to go and we picked up two yellow cards, one after the other, Sam Brown and Shaun Crawford, both, I think, for preventing a quick taps, so the last few minutes saw even more stout defending now down to thirteen men. Then a dust up started, in fact I think there were two, one right in front of the posts and one a little wider, I have no idea how they started and as far as I could see it looked like those involved had got their handbags out.
As these were starting, the Wootton Bassett right winger had got hold of the ball and was trying to break through, but with James Hocking, Billy Orchard and Charlie Groves around him never really stood a chance of being their man of the match by scoring the bonus point try.
The referee and some sensible peacemakers managed to stop the dust-ups after fifteen seconds or so. The referee called the captains together, had a stern word for a minute and then blew for full time.
All in all, an entertaining game that was won easily enough.

Richard Goldsby-West was presented with the Nigel Chivell Man-of-the-match award sponsored by Jack West of TAC accountants and presented by the Royal Wootton Bassett Chairman.

The team.
1. Tyler Busfield. P.I.M. Financial Services.
2. Liam Jarvis. Steel Brew.
3. Oli Symons. Greenlight Safety and Training
4. Kyle Felton. Plym Pat Testing
5. Mike Rickard. Pon Nic properties.
6. James Hocking. Redmoor snacks.
7. Bertie Fordham. Accurocare, lifestyle choices.
8. Matt Gregory (c). HSK Building Services.
9. Richard Goldsby-West. (c). Smashland Burgers.
10. Sam Brown. Eden Clinic.
11. Harrison Coonick. Ashwood trees Ltd
12. Dan Lilley. We remember submariners.
13. Shaun Crawford. (vc). Plym Pat testing
14. Charlie Groves. Journeaux accountancy
15. Billy Orchard. Parrot plumbing and heating
16. Josh Martin. JML Bricklaying.
17. Tom Davies. Pantheon Gym
18. Fin White
The Management.
Ben Russell.
Aiden Taylor

A brief second team report.
I didn’t see this match as I stayed at home to watch the Colts and the firsts.
The seconds had a difficult away game against Withycombe, with a few changes and one last minute drop out, we started with only seventeen players
If you had set your sat nav to take you there, you would have ended up in North Somerset and missed the game. I only found this out last season; it is on the edge of Exmouth, and I have yet to find out why.
They lie in ninth place while we are top, but for some reason are a good home side and difficult to beat there.
As the game went on and the second half started, it was looking as if we were going to trip up. In the first half, we were always chasing their score.
With them using their back to push the scoreboard along, on two minutes they scored a try from No 11 Jayden Gore that was converted by No 12 Thomas Parker. 7~0.
Almost straight away, we pulled level with a try from Ethan Hilland and converted by Tom West, the same Tom that told me three weeks ago his rugby career was over; fortunately for us, he had not put a full stop to the statement. 7~7.
Then quickly on twelve minutes No13 Liam Daniels scored for them and again converted by Thomas Parker, 14~7.
Back we came nine minutes later with a try from the reliable try scorer Sam Fincham, but the conversion was missed. 14~12.
Then on the half hour, No. 6 Joe Oates scored to open up a small gap; the conversion was missed. 19~12.
Bang on half-time, the day was saved when Sam Fincham ran in his second, which was converted by Tom West. We had pulled level again. 19~19.

Not long after the restart we got our noses in front for the first time when James ‘Spud’ McFarlane scored and with the Tom West conversion a lead at 19~26.
Then we got stuck in the mud, so to speak, and they caught us and pulled away and into the distance.
Flanker Archie Symons scored a try, and it was converted by Tom Parker. 26~26.
Then not long after the restart they scored again with a try from No 10 Cooper Love converted by Tom Parker. 33~26.
Then, another try this from Tom Parker, who kicked his own effort. 40~26.
Three seven pointers inside the first fifteen minutes of the half, it was looking like we were destined to lose this one.
However, whatever their players and supporters must have been thinking and raising a glass to, strong running Tom Richard thought otherwise and on about the half hour he ran in two quick tries, and with Tom West’s conversions, the score board went from 40~26 first to 40~33 and with their supporters now feeling wobbly at the knees and the players on the back foot, he ran in his second and with Tom West’s conversion the board now read 40~40 with about five minutes to go.
I suspect both sides might have settled for a draw and a try bonus point each had it happened, and all trooped off for a hot shower, a meal and a pint with Withycombe feeling they had done particularly well to hold the league leaders.
But with our league position to think about, we put in one last drive and got into their half,
I don’t know what the penalty was for or how difficult but I suspect the pressure of the moment caused it.
Whatever, we had the penalty, and it was down to Tom West, who had so recently declared his retirement, to kick it over for the win, and that is just what he did.
40~43.
I don’t suppose there was time for a restart, or if there was, we would have played it out without drama.
A great escape had happened, thanks to the inspired management of the much changed team by Dickie Duffield and Steve Hilland.
Thanks to Withycombe and the referee for an entertaining afternoon.

The team.
1. Cameron Donkin – sponsored by SIPPS
2. Ethan Hilland. Sustainability and Engineering consultants.
3. James McFarlane. Armada social work services
4. Al Thomas. Southway Service Station Services Ltd.
5. Alex Gibson
6. Elliott Lupson. (C). Jerry Josee and Ocean City sounds.
7. Henry Gascoyne.
8. Ethan Millard. Vessel Social Work Services
9. Tom West.
10. Aiden Taylor. Market Media.
11. Rohan Johnson.
12. Tom Richards. Buddha Utilities.
13. Reece De Jersey.
14. Brad Lumley.
15. Sam Fincham. Severn Access and rescue Ltd
16. Khane Young
17. Charlie Newcombe.
18.
.
The Management.
Dickie Duffield. Esq.
Steve Hilland

The Colts against Tavistock ended up as a bit of a washout.
We had twenty-nine available, but Tavistock came with twelve. To be fair, the previous years' Under 16s were not strong, or they had very few at that age group, and so they are trying to rebuild.
So we played twelve-a-side, even then, we were far too strong and stopped adding up the score at 57~7 around half-time.
To their credit, they stuck to their game, scored a converted try and worked hard right to the end and never gave up.

The Colts.
For Colts photos, click the box. Colts photos here.
1. Tom Brown
2. Cohan Robinson. (RLPlastering)
3. Kassim Shaibu
4. Will Pooley
5. Nathan Todd (c) (We Remember Submariner)
6. Harris Stewart
7. Alfie Follett
8. Jake Mackenzie (Plymouth Sparky Ltd)
9. Harry Jones
10. Joss Redsell
11. Liam Furze
12. Elliott Pocknell
13. Seth Stevenson
14. Freddie Ticehurst
15. James Furness
16. Rob O’Neill
17. Indy Knight
18. Emerson Andrews. ( Advance Fire Protection Ltd)
19. Max Pennington
20. Zac Strausse

The Management.
Colts coaches. Kieran Down.
WO1 Paul 'Sweeny' Todd. Colts yr 2.
Rocky Young. Colts yr 1.
Steve Mole. Colts yr 1.