A good game to watch and one that in the end we won easily enough, but by gum did we make it difficult for ourselves.
We gave them nine points from easy penalties and it was nearly twelve but the last on hit the post and bounced out.
Paignton scored inside four minutes in the turnstile corner, we had been on the attack but the last pass to Elliot Lupson was a bit wild and the attack failed. They took advantage of to to score. 0~5.
On ten minutes we scored after a couple of catch and drives with Ian Disspain peeling off to score, Lewis Swotton converted and we were 7~5 up.
Sixteen minutes and our second try, they kicked away the ball and we claimed it, we put in a chip and chase, Harry Groves put in a good follow up and forced them to fly hack the ball in to touch.
From the line out we drove to within six feet of their line then sent it along the line, a cross field kick was collected by Morgan Gilbert who evaded the defender to score.
Lewis Swotton converted. 14~5.
On eighteen minutes they won a penalty, went for a line out and won it, one of their big forward went for the line, two missed tackles later he passed out for them to score under the posts and convert. 14~12.
A simple penalty for Paignton and they briefly took the lead at 14~15.
From the restart we kicked the ball to them but Harry Groves got in and managed to knock the ball back on our side, a move down the same wing saw Dan Edgcombe take the final pass and score.
19~15.
Then another score from the restart, we took their kick and started a run with it, Harrison Slade kicked long, they took the kick and ran back at us. A wild back pass fell between players, Stu Bartlett fly hacked on and collected just short of the line to go over and score. Lewis Swotton converted. 26~15.
Another penalty to Paignton took them to 26~18.
A third penalty to Paignton and they advanced to 26~21 to keep them in the hunt.
Half time.
On five minutes Harrison Slade scored after the ball went up and down the line a couple of times. Tony Sibley then took it on and made it available and Harrison Slade side stepped a couple of defenders to score under the cross bar, Lewis Swotton converted. 33~21.
Paignton nearly scored from a five meter scrum, the scum half went for the line, fell short then had another go at touching the ball down, it was over the line but referee Whisky Hague disallowed it for a double movement.
In attack Paignton were looking smooth but when the ball got to the middle of the line it was spilled forward. Harrison Slade quickly got us moving and we got close in after a couple of attacks were stopped by Paignton but eventually numbers and speed told and Matthew Middlemiss touched down by the turnstile corner flag. 38~21.
And that was how it stayed till the final whistle.
It sounds silly but when we played well we played well, but when we were sloppy we gave away too many points.
Still a nice win
Next week Newton Abbot away then Tiverton away and on the 25th the prospect of the Plymouth Combination’s Lockie cup final on The Rectory against Plymstock Albion Oaks.
So we need to get everyone to training and get the team match fit for the cup final.