With visiting Matson in tenth place in the league and we being second, it was never going to be an easy afternoon for them.
Talking to their linesman, Alvin, who is fifty eight and has been with the club for forty years, he told me that they are four regulars in the pack and a couple of others missing, and they have four colts playing their debut first team game. That makes it even less promising for them.

A slightly breezy but largely sunny afternoon, we go off to a ripping start with Harrison Coonick side stepping his way to the try line to score near the posts, Sam Brown added the conversion, and we were 7~0 up inside four minutes.
Not many minutes later we attacked again getting into their half, Sam Brown took it on well, half way across their twenty two he faced their defender, you could see him looking at the approaching defender and holding his pass till the last second before giving to to Tom Davies who had an easy run in to score, Sam Brown put over the conversion, the ball bounced off the roof of the house behind the posts and went into their garden that made it 14~0.
Matson did get into our twenty-two with a lineout from a penalty; however, we stole the ball with a tap down, they were quicker to get hold of it, attacked a couple of times, then put it towards the stand side, won a scrum but did something wrong and were penalised, so a possible try chance was lost.

Matson slowed our scoring briefly when they went over between the posts. I missed the build up changing lenses, but was able to catch the moment the referee, Scott, raised his hand and blew for it. With that the easiest of conversions to make it 14~7.
The next try came on sixteen minutes, it started on our twenty-two with Sam Brown taking it on then giving it to Harrison Coonick who once again zig zagged his way towards the line, tackled about fifteen feet out it went right towards the stand side, to find Olly Symons on the wing who ran in to touch down part way towards the posts on the posts. He did really well, considering the speed of our backs in attack. I am impressed he kept up and was there on hand to take the final pass and score. Sam Brown again converting, 21~7.
The next try came from another fast backs move with Harrison Coonick running well in his own style to pass to Sam Brown on their twenty two, a quarter of the way across Sam grubber kicked it through a gap, knowing the dead ball line at that ends is very short, I was cursing him for doing it assuming it would go dead, but no, he raced through and beat the defender to score and convert.
I had to eat my words. 28~7 after nineteen minutes.
On the half hour, Dan Lilley raced in and touched down under the crossbar after we won a lineout on their twenty-two, Tyler Busfield, who I think is playing well, took it on strongly, then to Dan Lilley for the score, 35~7.
Just on the break, they got to our twenty-two from a penalty but overthrew the ball, we took it and started a backs move down the stand side for Tom Davies to run in and touch down, the conversion attempt by Dan Brown was very difficult because it was right into the sun, it missed.
Half time. 40~7.
Our lineouts were going well, we stole four or five of their throws, we were on top in the scrums, and our running and passing was almost flawless.

They kicked off to us, we made a hash of securing he ball and they took advantage to get down towards our line and I thought they had scored but the referee, Scott, signalled held up, which is what the pictures show.
Harrison Coonick scored his second try, going in under the crossbar, Richard Goldsby-West now kicking, put it over. 47~7.

Matson looked as if they were going to score with a strong attack by one of their forwards. I could not see the detail as I was taking photos, but the referee blew and gave them a scrum. I think the referee must have blocked the way of our defenders. With that, Tom Richards shouted something like “Lookout for the referee, he’s the one with the yellow shirt on” It raised a laugh even with the referee.

The scrum did not go well, and we were able to kick clear.
We attacked again, Kyle Felton got the ball and was in the clear going for their twenty-two, ‘He will never make it,’ I thought uncharitably, and neither did he because he had two of the fast backs chasing him, but he was able to keep it moving ending with Harrison Coonick to score his third under the crossbar, Richard Goldsby-West converting. 54~7.
Matson had by now taken a couple of injuries that did not help their cause, though on one occasion their pack pushed us quite seriously.
Tom Davies scored by the scoreboard, Richard Goldsby-West attempted the conversion, twice the ball fell off the tee in the breeze, so he tried a drop kick, but again the breeze took it off target.
59~7.
Next, we kicked for a short lineout, took the ball and went for the line reasonably easily for Richard Goldsby-West to touch down. 64~7.
The last two tries ended the game, Tom Richards ran in from the restart after a good break by Mike Rickard down the middle for TR to run in and around behind the posts then Harrison Coonick scored his fourth, we won a lineout and mauled in a scruffy and slow way, their pack was well organised so we had to put it to the backs for the score both converted by Richard Goldsby-West.
So ended the game, it was rather one-sided but the decent points difference put us on top of the table after Topsham could only beat Chew Valley by 48~35.
Tom Davies was the Nigel Chivell Memorial Man of the match, presented by the Matson Chairman Steve Rudge.
Thanks to Scott for a well refereed game, and thanks to Matson for the game and sticking to it.

Thanks to Andy 'Happy days' McBeath for taking over the microphone, doing it really well and not putting on the music. Sorry to those who enjoy the music.

1. Tyer Busfield. P.I.M. Financial Services.
2. Yianni Costas. SA Safety.
3. Oli Symons. Greenlight Safety and Training
4. Kyle Felton. Plym Pat Testing
5. Mike Rickard. Pon Nic properties.
6. Bertie Fordham. Accurocare, lifestyle choices.
7. James Hocking. Redmoor snacks.
8. Matt Gregory (c). HSK Building Services.
9. Richard Goldsby-West. (cc). Smashland Burgers.
10. Sam Brown. Eden Clinic.
11. Harrison Coonick. Ashwood Trees Ltd.
12. Shaun Crawford. Plym Pat testing
13. Tom Richards. Buddha Utilities.
14. Tom Davies. Pantheon Gym.
15. Dan Lilley. We remember submariners.
16. Liam Jarvis. Steel Brew.
17. Andy Pond (c). Steak and Omelette restaurant.
18. Toby Knowles. AMH Building and renovations

The Management.
Ben Russell
Aiden Taylor