The Plymouth sports Gazette rugby reports from Sara. Click here for the local rugby reports.

The ups and downs in the league this season.

The scorers away at Sidmouth.
Tries.
Tom Davies (3).
Chalie Groves.
Rob Walsh.
Oli Symons
Richard Goldsby-West conversions (2)

The Firsts.
1. Oli Symons. Greenlight Safety Consultants Ltd.
2. Rob Walsh. NESC Ltd.
3. Josh Martin. JML Bricklaying
4. Kyle Felton. Plym Pat Testing
5. Nathan Todd. We remember submariners.
6. Liam Jarvis. Steel Brew
7. Henry Gascoyne.
8. Bertie Fordham. Accurocare, lifestyle choices.
9. Ewan Piercy. Media Bulldag
10. Richard Goldsby-West (c). Smashland Burgers.
11. Charlie Over. Roast Coffee.
12. Shaun Crawford. Plym Pat Testing.
13. George Pooley. We remember submariners.
14. Tom Davies. Pantheon Plymouth
15. Charlie Groves. Journeaux accountancy
16. Louis Tout. Clarity Wealth Management
17. Finn White.
18. Billy Orchard.Parrot Plumbing and & Heating

The Management
Ben Russell.
Aiden Taylor.

This is the third from last game in the league for the seconds and the most difficult.
Withycombe are a knotty side at the best of times, so we can’t take this one lightly.
In the end, we won by a decent margin, but they really stuck to it and actually seemed to get stronger after they had a player red-carded late in the first half.

A sunny day and with a stiff breeze.
The game got off to a fast start with Billy Sutton opening the scoring and Matt Opie converting on five minutes, but Withycombe came back with a penalty a couple of minutes later, midfield just inside our twenty-two, over it went. 7~3.
Seven minutes and our second try from Andy Pond converted by Matt Opie. Sam Fincham had a decent run down the stand side then the ball went across the pitch, a couple of digs at the line then to Andy for the score. 14~3.
Good to see Andy Pond back playing after a few weeks' rest, he is too good not to be playing.
On thirteen minutes, they missed an easy penalty from a similar position.
Then on fifteen minutes another try this time from Reece De Jersey, they kicked out of defence, someone jumped to keep it in play, the ball fell loose and before a Withycombe player could get to it, Mike Kelly saved us with a very quick pick up, very close to the sideline, and lovely snap short pass to another player that got us moving, the ball went across to the pitch with the back and Reece ran in for the score, Matt Opie converted. 21~3.
Withycombe scored just before the break, they got to our line and attacked a couple of times, unable to get over it a quick pass to the right wing and they went in by the scoreboard. The conversion missed but they were now on 21~8.
Withycombe then got to our line again, and attacked three or four times getting very close to the line good defence was called for to keep them out; they put it wide and looked like scoring, but the final pass was forward.
From the scrum on our line, where we pushed them seriously, we played the ball along the line, no one really getting anywhere, then Tom Richard kicked long, I couldn’t see who did what, I was too far away, but it ended with Billy Sutton, who went in under the crossbar, Matt Opie converted. 28~8.
Cam Donkin had the first of two really long runs from the restart, going from our twenty-two to near their twenty-two.
Withycombe were given a red card, not sure what for.
Shortly afterwards Sam Fincham was yellow carded, I think for a deliberate knock on.
Then we scored our last try of the half, I think Yianni Costas scored it but it came after a good long run down the middle by Ethan Millard, the conversion by Matt Opie, or the attempt hardly got over five feet and struggled to make the post, I think his foot slipped. 33~8 at the break.
So far we were on top in the scrums and doing ok in the lineouts.

The second half had us playing towards the school.
Withycombe should have scored. We had a scrum ten yards out from our posts, the ball came out suddenly as it rolled towards our line. Bill Sutton did not see it quickly enough, but I guess their flanker did and ran to pick it up three feet short of our line, but knocked it on.
Early on Andy Pond collected a yellow card.
Then Jake McKenzie scored out on the left wing, school end, with Matt Opie converting. 40~8. Luke Stannard started the breakout, Matt Neyle took it on then it went left for Jake to score right by the corner flag, that too was converted by Matt Opie.
This was followed by a third Billy Sutton try two minutes later, 47~8.
At this point, we were almost untouchable, our running and passing was really fast and accurate from both backs and forwards, which is difficult to defend against and it has served us well all season.
Then the Withycombe No 15 scored after breaking a tackle just inside our twenty-two, that was converted to make it 47~15.
Twenty-nine minutes and a try to Cam Donkin, a well deserved try for some really good running. Leighton Stark converted. 54~15.
Our last try came after another strong run by various backs, with Reece De Jersey scoring his second. it was converted by Leighton Stark. 61~15.
Withycombe were not down despite being one man down for the half.
They nearly scored with the forward attacking our line, but with us defending it well, so they popped it out two places to the left. Unfortunately for them, the last pass was just about to go into the hands of their winger when he suddenly pulled up, clutched the back of his leg hopping around in pain. I think he had cramp. The ball fell dead and was adjudged a knock on, and that was it. A shame because he may well have scored as he was not that far off our line; he was attended to by their physio and then helped off to sit out the last five minutes or so. I said to him, 'You were in for a try there, but I do have the photo of you clutching your leg"
He laughed and thanked me.

Withycombe did end the game with one last try and a bonus point, when the No 14 dived in at the entrance side corner flag despite the best efforts of Mike Kelly, who tackled him on the line . The conversion missed.
So ended the game on 61~20.
We did have a flat period towards the end when it was clear the win was secured.
I do admire Withycombe who could have thrown in the towel when they were 47~8 down with the prospect of playing the whole half with only fourteen men and against a strong breeze, but they didn’t and towards the end put in a number of determined attacks with good passing and supporting.
Only good defence prevented then scoring maybe three more tries.
I am not sure if there was an official Man of the Match, but my vote would have been for Mike Kelly, who had a great game.
Dartmouth next week at home, then Tavistock also at home.
Honiton, nine points behind, had a big win over Topsham II, so the difference between us remains the same.
They have the more difficult last two games, having to travel to Bideford, who are a place below them.

1. Yianni Costas. SA Safety.
2. Ethan Millard. Sustainability and Engineering consultants.
3. Mike Kelly. Hydref accounting Ltd.
4. Cam Donkin. SIPPS.
5. Andy Pond. Steak and Omelette.
6. George Hamblin.
7. Elliott Lupson. Jerry Josee and Ocean City sounds
8. Jake McKenzie.
9. Billy Sutton. Plympat testing.
10. Matt Neyle. Cherry plumbing and heating.
11. Luke Stannard, Nordic installations.
12. Leighton Stark. Sam Winfield
13. Tom Richards. Buddha Utilities.
14. Sam Fincham. Severn Access Lts
15. Reece De Jersey. Plym Pat testing. .
16. Leighton Stark. ASAP renovations.
17. Sam Winfield.
18. Brad Lumley
19. Harry Entiknap.

The Management.
Dickie Duffield. Esq.
Steve Hilland