Withycombe v Newquay (Nov 2012)

Withycombe 42
Newquay Hornets 12

Withy returned to winning ways with a bonus point victory over a high-scoring Newquay outfit on Saturday. Withycombe started strongly, a Jack Pugsley penalty opening the scoring after some consistent pressure in the Newquay half. Hornets threw a spanner in the Withycombe works after ten minutes after some good offloads allowed them to catch Withycombe napping and score in the corner. That would signal the end of Newquay's scoring for a while as Withycombe scored 32 unanswered points. Making good use of the wind in the first half, Withycombe peppered the Newquay corners and their reward was two tries from lineouts: first a well-worked backs move giving Ben Mardle space to dive over in the corner, then a well-controlled drive which allowed Mike Richards to score untouched. Pugsley added the extras on the stroke of halftime to make it 15-5.

After a first half seemingly balanced on a knife-edge, Withycombe braced themselves for a fight in the second half which never really materialised. Newquay made poor use of the wind and Withycombe consistently ran the ball back with interest. First came a simple penalty conversion from Pugsley, before Ben Tuckett used his go go gadget arms to stretch for a unlikely score after a switch move from the second rows split the defence. Mike Symons ended any hope of a Newquay fightback with yet another run in from the halfway line, this one coming from a quick tap following a scrum infringement. Kevin Rodwell has been scoring consistently for Withycombe recently, but turned provider next as he came in to the line and fed Danny Sansom, who scored with Pugsley converting. Newquay grabbed a onsolation try after wearing Withycombe down with the pick-and-go, but the home side saved the best for last as hooker Dave Richards burst through the defence and ran a picture-perfect switch with prop Sam Manning who dived over to wrap up the scoring. Withycombe play the last of the "big four" away next Saturday, when they will be looking to build more momentum at Tiverton.