On a lovely sunny day, we entertained Macclesfield in the return game; the away game was close too at 47~35 to them.
Sam Potts will be pleased with today’s result. As a former player for Macclesfield and a player for us, he can sit back and relax with both his clubs having won a game.
Also of interest, Macclesfield came down with one of our former players at No. 10, Charlie Attis, son of Devonport Services' favourite Barry Attis.

Twice after the match, I heard the comment, ‘A win is a win” maybe both teams were a little tense with the sides clearly so close in ability, the game never reached the heights of the Hinkley game a couple of weeks previously.

Still, on a lovely sunny afternoon, the game kicked off with us playing towards the entrance.
On seven minutes we opened the score following a catch and drive at the entrance end club house side, from a lineout we drove slowly and diagonally towards the posts, then scrum half Dan Goldstone spotted an opening in their defence, took the ball from the back of the maul and sent out a long pass to Aiden Taylor who was loitering with intent on the left wing, he took the ball cleanly and went over with no opposition. It looked like a planned move.
The conversion was a mystery and not something I have seen before. Richard Goldsby-West had lined up the ball, stepped back and paused, suddenly two of their players dashed out and one of them picked up the ball and the referee indicated conversion attempt void.
Richard was clearly taken aback at the unexpected turn of events. Evidently the pair and the referee had seen what must have looked like the start of his run up and went for it. 5~0.
On nine minutes, Macclesfield struck back, it was a well done but simple move so basic it seems hardly worth describing, a simple attack, ball along the line to the left winger, Jamie Harrison, who went in out wide at the school end stand side. 5~5.

On thirteen minutes, we scored our second with a try from Charlie Groves.
From a catch and drive on their twenty-two the forwards mauled a short way but were stopped, It went to the backs, Liam Jarvis had a bit of a dig at the defence then it went to Richard Goldsby-West who split the first line defence going diagonal towards the drive in entrance, and just before the second up defence could prevent him he passed the ball out to Charlie Groves who had half the twenty-two to cross before scoring being forced to touch down just after crossing the line by a defender. Richard Goldsby-West converted. 12~5.

On twenty-one minutes we scored our third try. Macclesfield were attacking our line close enough so one missed tackle would have given them a score, but we turned them over and rather than kicking clear opted to run it out from our own line, someone speedy started the move with George Pooley taking it deep into their half, stopped the referee blew and took it back for a penalty to us, Richard kicked for the close in line out by the turnstile corner, we took the ball and mauled slowly towards their line and over for Fraz Pearson to announce that Richard Goldsby-West was the scorer, he then converted his own effort.
To be fair, Richard at 16 years old did represent the South West U16s at hooker so he had some right to be there in the thick of it. 19~5.
At 19~5 we looked like we had broken Macclesfield’s grip on us and were looking comfortable; one or two of the Macclesfield players I fancy were looking a little down in spirit.
Maybe we relaxed somewhat but paid for it when Macclesfield scored two tries and a conversion before the break, the first on twenty-seven minutes by Tom Jennings going in by the score board from a catch and drive and a simple backs quick passing move, that was not converted
The second on minute thirty, when Samuel Adu went in close to the posts to give the aforementioned Charlie Attis a simple conversion. So we suddenly want from a cosy 19~5 lead to a nervous 19~17 lead at the break.
The lineouts had been going well for both teams, they were probably slightly stronger in the scrums but there was really nothing in it. We probably had the edger in the mauls.

Seven minutes into the second half with us now playing towards the school, we scored a bonus point try from Tom Davies.
They had got to our line and were looking good only for Oli Symons to turn the ball over and drive out and for us to kick out to half way.
From that we attacked their line with all hands for the ball to go to Tom Davies who went over for the score with Richard Goldsby-West converting. 26~17.

On fourteen minutes, we scored again; this time it was set up by Shaun Crawford running strongly down the middle of the pitch and passing to Charlie Groves in support who outpaced the defence, upon arriving at the posts he seemed to pause then did a really high dive and came down to score.
The conversion by Richard Goldsby-West was an easy two points. 33~17.
Once again we had slipped the leash and run off like a naughty beagle.
However, only a minute later Macclesfield pulled us back again after a breakaway from halfway by two players with the second, Dominic Hanson, the scorer and Charlie Attis converting again. 33~24.
Two minutes later our final try on twenty minutes this time a second for Aiden Taylor. It happened so quickly that I missed the build-up. The conversion close to the posts should have gone over but missed by about three feet. 38~24.
With ten minutes to go, Macclesfield again closed he gap with a try. From a midfield scrum when we were penalised for dropping it, they kicked for the corner, won the lineout and mauled over with not much difficulty for Harry Hughes the scorer, fortunately for us the conversion missed. 38~29.
The last eight minutes were frenetic, with each side trying to score. Macclesfield were the winners with a try at the hands of Andrew Darlington to make it a one score score line at 38~34.
We ended the stronger attacking their line and winning a couple of penalties in front of the posts. Most spectators thought we should have taken the three points to give us a seven point lead leaving them having to score and convert to win.
We didn’t; twice we went for five-yard lineouts but could make nothing of either of them.
All the while the clock was ticking down to zero, eventually it turned red, we had kept possession so Richard Goldsby-West kicked it out for the win.

So there we were; they collected two bonus points and we had the full five points and another win for the season.
The Nigel Chivell Memorial Man of the match was the ever dependable Shaun Crawford.

Thanks to Sam Samuel and his under 12s for running around and collecting the balls to keep the game flowing, and thanks also to the referee Tom Evans-Jones and his two assistants for a well refereed game.

The First team.

1. Rikki Bentham.
2. Aiden Taylor.
3. Oli Symons.
4. Andy Pond
5. Kyle Felton.
6. Liam Jarvis.
7. Bertie Fordham.
8. Matt Gregory. (C)
9. Dan Goldstone.
10. Richard Goldsby-West.
11. Charlie Groves.
12. Shaun Crawford. (C)
13. Tom Davies.
14. George Pooley.
15. Billy Orchard.
16. Sam Bennett.
17. James McFarlane.
18. Tyler Busfield.
19. Billy Sutton.
20. Matt Nyle.

The Management.
Ben Russell.
Rikki Bentham.