The last league game of the season and the last in this league, having won the previous game, we were clear at the top, so tonight’s match was simply to tie up the league season.
Tavistock have had a difficult season and lie in ninth place. The first league game was close and we only won by six points; in the second, the Combination’s Lockie cup, we won by 66~7. So we were quietly confident of a strong win, and we got one.
They came with a cobbled together side with a couple of forwards playing in the backs and, apparently, a prop playing in the wing.

I won’t write a moment by moment report, too many tries were scored.
The game started with us kicking off to them, their ball taker jumped for it but knocked on, Toby Moss was on hand to pick it up and score, the conversion was missed. 5~0.
Four minutes later, the second try and by Ewan Piercey, we attacked down the club side then across to the stand side for Ewan Piercey to angle towards the post to touch down.
Matt Opie converted. 12~0.
Six minutes on, and Josh Martin went over under a little pressure from the defence to score by the turnstile corner. Matt Opie converted. 19~0.
On nineteen minutes, Tavistock opened their scoring when they kicked out of defence, the ball stayed in play, we did not control it properly, the bobbling ball was fly hacked on with Will White winning the race for the touchdown. The conversion went over. 19~7.
From the restart, we scored again with Toby Moss collecting his second try that Matt Opie converted. 26~7.
Tavistock very nearly scored at the school end stand side corner, but were just stopped six feet from the line.
Sam Fincham scored his first of the game, quickly followed by a Reece De Jersey try, then a second Sam Fincham after a great run by Cam Donkin. Twice, defenders got hold of one leg, and twice he hopped a couple of steps, then broke free and shortly afterwards gave it to Sam Fincham. All three converted by Matt Opie. 47~7.
Then right on half time Tavistock scored their second, a lineout to them was stolen by Nathan Todd, who had no right to get a hand on the ball and had to really lean over to get it and tap it down. We played it down the line but a short pass was intercepted by Will White who had a long run in to score. The simple conversion was missed. 47~12.

So at half time we were well on the way to winning, the scrums were even with Tavistock maybe slightly on top. Our lineout went well, with Nathan Todd at least twice stealing their ball.

The second half started with the ever lively Luke Stannard, who always make good ground, scoring and Matt Opie converting. 54~7.
Four minutes and a try to Cam Donkin, who well deserved it after a number of strong runs by him. Matt Opie converted. 61~12.
From the restart, one pass out to Nathan Todd, who took it on, then to Ethan Millard, who ran strongly down the stand side. You could see him looking left at Toby Moss in support then with perfect timing slipped it out to Toby who when over under pressure to score.
An out wide conversion by Matt Opie sailed over the crossbar. 68~12.
Then a try from Harrison Coonick, who has been off for weeks and weeks with an injury, the conversion was missed. 73~12.
Tavistock put in some very enthusiastic counterattacks with no sign of weariness that you couldn’t blame them had they had it.
Sam Fincham scored his third of the game, the conversion was by Leighton Stark. 80~12.
Harrison Coonick broke away on halfway, shrugging off a couple of tackles as he went and with a defender chasing him but never able to close the gap, he crossed to score under the bar. Leighton Stark converted. 87~12.
Toby Moss scored his fourth and final try, which was converted by Leighton Stark. 94~12.
As a reward for his hard work throughout the game, Ethan Millard scored a try that was not converted. 99~12.

With a couple of minutes to go, most on the clubhouse side of the pitch, at least, thought the referee should have blown for full time and kept the score below one hundred.
He didn’t, and the game carried on.
Again, Tavistock put in a number of aggressive runs out of defence; they looked good, but ultimately they came to nothing.
Freddie Dover took the score over the hundred, but no conversion. 106~12. At this point, the scoreboard ran out of digital numbers and could only record 6~12.
A late arrival Tavistock supporter might have given a cheer of hope after looking at the scoreboard.
Then Jake McKenzie scored the final try, which was converted by Leighton Stark. 113~12.
One final attack and a surprise when first team hooker, who opted to play for the seconds as a centre earlier in the season, boosted his credentials as a back by dropping a goal. 116~12.

It is difficult to pick out players for mention; some have been in the report, but others hard work may not have scored, but will have contributed to the whole.
Mikey Kelly has really come on in the last two games, showing his worth in selection. Elliott Lupson, who I think travels from Newton Abbot to play and train, the list could go on.
Thanks to Ethan Hilland, who sadly injured his arm/wrist a few weeks ago and would have been in the team but for that.
And lastly, to those players not playing in this game but who have turned out in the earlier games and contributed to the promotion.

So ended the best of seasons for the seconds, thanks to the players and volunteers' hard work and week in week out of Dickie Duffield esq and Steve Hilland. and the best of seasons for the club as a whole.
In total, we have scored 1385 points and 501 against, twenty-four wins and three losses.

The league cup was presented.
Under the crossbar to cheers, the corks of the bottles of bubbly popped into the sky, and some bubbly was drunk; more was poured over each other or fountained into the evening.
Blue smoke from smoke candles drifted through the players and cheering supporters.

One last game on the 4th May will be the Combination’s Lockie cup final against Plymouth Argaum.
A very handsome silver cup presented in 1901 by John Lockie, a Scottish shipbuilder, probably looking for votes. He was elected the next year.
The first winners were a team called the Naval Harlequins.

The Second team.

1. Mike Kelly. Hydref accounting Ltd.
2. Josh Martin. JML Bricklaying Ltd.
3. Cam Donkin. SIPPS.
4. Alex Gibson.
5. Jake McKenzie. Plymouth Sparky Ltd.
6. Nathan Todd. We remember submariners.
7. Elliott Lupson. (c). Jerry Josee and Ocean City sounds
8. Ethan Millard. Sustainability and Engineering consultants.
9. Matt Neyle. Cherry plumbing and heating.
10. Aiden Taylor. Market Media.
11. Toby Moss. Identity Fashions.
12. Ewan Piercy. Median Bulldog.
13. Reece De Jersey. Plym Pat testing.
14. Sam Fincham. Severn Access Lts
15. Luke Stannard. Nordic installation..
16. Freddy Dover. Invisible to Invincible.
17. Leighton Stark. ASAP renovations.
18. Harrison Coonick. Ashwood trees.

The Management.
Dickie Duffield. Esq.
Steve Hilland