Liskeard-Looe v Withycombe

Front Row Swag Sinks Liskeard

Withycombe's big boys do the business against weak but never-say-die Liskeard

Liskeard-Looe 6
Withycombe 73

Withycombe cruised to victory over struggling Liskeard but still dropped to second on points difference as title rivals Saltash thumped Exeter Saracens by 115 points.

Withycombe's scrum did the bulk of the work with No.8 Mike Richards helping himself to four tries including three pushover efforts. In between the grunt there was a smattering of glitter as the visitors scored some long range tries to keep things interesting. After the first pushover, John Parkin's tap penalty led to a trademark jinking run before Dave Richards, still playing fly-half, did much the same ten minutes later. Terry Mears marked his comeback with some strong running and helped to set up the next try, offloading to Eugene Badenhorst who put Joe Parkin over for the first of his hat-trick.

Liskeard nabbed a couple of penalties in the first half but that would be the extent of their scoring. Glen Layton's break restored order as Joe Parkin got his second, before Mike Richards took a quick dropout and finished what he started under the posts after another good run from Layton. Another pushover left the score at 47-6 at halftime.

In a sense 26 points was a poor return for a second half where Liskeard were reduced to 13 men, but Withycombe had their own troubles as injuries left them with 14 on the pitch, seven of which are front row players by trade! The bulk of the scoring was done early on. First the obligatorry pushover, and then two tries directly from kickoffs. Dave Sims finally caught a restart and Terry Mears injured himself scoring the ensuing try, before Dave Richards made a break from the next one and left Joe Parkin with 40 metres of grass between him and the tryline.

With half of their players belonging to the front row union, Withycombe struggled to score until the last minute when a booming kick from Glenn Channing on the 22 was gleefully collected and run in by Ben Clark moonlighting on the wing. Withycombe now have the traditional Presidents' XV game on Boxing Day before resuming league duties on the 3rd of January with a tricky trip to Bude.

Withycombe: Glenn Channing (9C), Jimmy Holman, Joe Parkin (3T), Terry Mears (1T), Glen Layton, Dave Richards (1T), John Parkin (1T), Phil Sluman, Liam Cullen, Chris Gibbons, Dave Sims, Tim Wills, Eugene Badenhorst, Ben Clark (1T), Mike Richards (4T). Reps: Sam Manning, Max Cooke, Dan Carey.

Withycombe v Honiton

Withycombe Stay Top

24-point margin keeps chasers at bay for now, but Withycombe will be disappointed with second-half haul against mid-table Honiton

Withycombe 41
Honiton 17

We've reached the halfway point in the season and Withycombe sit atop the Cornwall and Devon league by the slimmest of margins in points difference. With Crediton and Saltash both joining Withycombe on 60 points, not only bonus points but winning differentials are assuming a great deal of importance and Withycombe will be disappointed with not capitalising having been 29 unanswered points to the good at half time on Saturday.

Withycombe got out of the blocks in the best way possible, a lineout drive set by Dave Sims allowing Liam Cullen to break from the back of the maul and crash over in the corner in the first minute. On 7 minutes a scrum against the head saw Number 8 Mike Richards in unfamiliar territory as he picked from the base and "ran" 40 metres to score, dummying the full back along the way. He was back in his comfort zone 15 minutes later as the Withycombe pack scored yet another pushover try at the Brook End of the club.

The other Richards brother would be next to score as Joe Parkin made a spectacular break and uncharacteristically made his best effort at butchering the finish, being brought down within the 5 metre line. Fortunately Dave was on hand to collect the offload and secure the bonus point with 35 minutes on the clock. Sam Conway rounded off the first half scoring when he got on the end of a three-quarter move and fought through two defenders to get himself over the line.

Withycombe started the second half with Simon Tozer in the sin bin but their one-man deficit can hardly be blamed for Honiton's first score as some lax defending allowed the visitors in for a long range try. Withycombe hit straight back with a Parkin scissor move, John offloading to brother Joe who finished this one with aplomb under the posts. This was not the sign of Withycombe taking the game by the scruff of the neck again, though, as Honiton went over for another long range try to the consternation of coach Glenn Channing.

For the next 25 minutes the game remained scrappy, with both sides possibly guilty of trying to play too much rugby in the conditions. Withycombe created lots of chances but lacked a finishing edge until a simple blindside scrum move put Sam Conway over in the opposite corner to his first half try. Honiton had the last word but all eyes now turn to Liskeard for Withycombe. After Liskeard failed to send a side to Hayle last week, the league leaders will be looking to capitalise and give their points difference a healthy boost going into the Christmas break.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Sam Conway (2T), Joe Parkin (1T), John Parkin, Jimmy Holman, Glenn Channing (3C), Dave Richards (1T), Phil Sluman, Liam Cullen (1T), Chris Gibbons, Dave Sims, Matt Bragg, Eugene Badenhorst, Simon Tozer (YC), Mike Richards (2T). Reps: Sam Manning, Tim Wills, Ben Clark.

South Molton v Withycombe

Withycombe Brush molton Aside

South Molton 5
Withycome 41

Withycombe storm back to the top of the Cornwall & Devon league on points difference with an emphatic victory at South Molton

Withycombe put their Devon Cup disappointment behind them with a commanding display at basement boys South Molton on Saturday.

Four first-half tries nabbed the bonus point early and fortunately Withycombe's second-half attenuation wasn't t be an issue.

The fun started early as a scrum turnover gave Dave Richards the opportunity to show off his range of passing at flyhalf, a long looping pass allowing Jack Pugslry to open the scoring. Six minutes later some persistent phase play culminated in Dave Sims crashing over from short range. A quick tap on 24 minutes gave Sam Conway space to open his legs and he outpaced the Molton defence to score Withycombe's third. South Molton missed a penalty on 29 minutes but rarely looked like scoring; and just three minutes later Richards made his case for ousting Glenn Channing from the 10 shirt on a permanent basis with a show-and-go try featuring a hip action Channing can only dream of!

The second half was a messier affair. Having dominated the scrum and breakdown in the first half, penalties started going against Withycombe in both departments, and perhaps the visitors' eagerness to score was their undoing as passes started going to ground. Simon Tozer came off the bench to bag a try and on 50 minutes Joe Parkin's 60 metre break set the stage for Pugsley to core a straightforward second, but pickings were slim after that. Dan Carey bagged his first try in Withycombe colours from a driving maul, and South Molton ended with some reward for the second half efforts after som confusion in the Withycombe 22 led to a Garryowen bouncing straight into the arms of the onrushing Molton full back.

Next week Honiton visit Raleigh Park before Withycombe wrap up their 2014 league action with a visit to wooden spoon contenders Liskeard.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley (2T, 3C), Sam Conway (1T), Aaron Conway, Joe Parkin, Danny Sansom, Dave Richards (1T), John Parkin, Dave Wellbeloved, Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Dave Sims (1T), Matt Bragg, Andrei Toma, Eugene Badenhorst, Mike Richards. Reps: Dan Carey (1T), Tim Wills, Simon Tozer (1T).

Teignmouth v Withycombe (DIC)

Wills but no Way for Withy

Tim's first 5-pointer not enough to see off Teignmouth in the Devon Cup

Teignmouth 14
Withycombe 5

Withycombe crashed out of the Devon Cup at the first hurdle for a third consecutive year but acquitted themselves well against a Teignmouth side thriving in the league above.

Despite the scoreline and the conditions, the game was far from a drab affair, with both teams eager to attack and ferocious in defence.

Withycombe had the better of the first half with plenty of time in the Teignmouth half but all they had to show for it was Tim Wills' first-ever first team try after good work down the blindside from John Parkin and Sam Conway. Some more positives to come from the game were Chris Gibbons returning to the first team fold following his sabbatical in Australia and an enterprising performance from Dave Richards who switched from his more familiar role of hooker to fly-half for the day.

In the second half Withycombe's defence was tested to breaking point as they struggled to get out of their own half. Teignmouth stil struggled to break them down as time and again the rolling maul was stopped until Mike Richards fell foul of the referee and was sent to the sin bin on 57 minutes. Teignmouth scored shortly before Withycombe returned to full strength, and despite the best efforts, the attack simply wouldn't click. Teignmouth scored the decisive try with just two minutes remaining to send Withycombe home empty-handed, but the visitors can take heart from the league standings; should they achiev their aim of promotion this year, this performance suggests that they won't struggle next year.

This weekend the first team visit whipping boys South Molton as the second XV resume their Merit Table duties as they welcome Brixham to Raleigh Park.

Withycombe:Sam Conway, Joe Parkin, Aaron Conway, Andrei Toma, Lee Tanton, Dave Richards, John Parkin, Dave Wellbeloved, Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Dave Sims, Tim Wills (1T), Matt Bragg, Eugene Badenhorst, Mike Richards (YC). Reps: Max Cooke, Chris Gibbons, Richards Hodges, Glen Layton.

Withycombe v Hayle

Withycombe Trump Hayle with Second Half Storm

Raleigh Park boys keep the pressure on leaders Saltash with a comfortable victory

Withycombe 39
Hayle 3

Hayle were put to the sword at Raleigh Park with an assured performance in difficult conditions by Withycombe.

With the Clubhouse End being more suited to bog snorkelling than rugby, the hosts had their work cut out scoring in the first half. Four penalties in the Hayle 22 early on gave Withycombe a one-man advantage and skipper John Parkin decided to take the three points at the fourth time of asking. The decision paid off as Withycombe could then attack from deep, and before long a blindside break put lovable rogue Jimmy Holman in for a try on his return to first team rugby.

The conditions dictated the game in the first half as handling errors abounded, the only obvious bright spot being Mike Richards' offload to Eugene Badenhorst, the South African man of the match running in the first try of his hat-trick with glee. The teams turned round at 17-3 but Hayle had rarely threatened the Withyocmbe tryline. The second half continued in a similar fashion, Dave Richards' yellow card not helping matters; but Hayle began to crumble after Withycombe's return to a full complement.

The score that got the floodgates open was Badenhorst's second on 63 minutes; not long afterward Sam Conway got on the end of some good interplay and Badenhorst capped a frantic ten minutes with his third, a frankly ridiculous diving pirouetting score in the corner with most of his body in the air outside the field of play. The now inevitable Mike Richards short-ranger looked extremely tame by comparison four minutes later but at least gave Glenn Channing a chance to kick a goal at the Brook End. All in all, another 5-pointer which keeps the pressure on leaders Saltash who failed to make the most of their trip to whipping boys South Molton; Withycombe will be looking to pile on the points when they visit in two weeks time. Meanwhile Teignmouth await in the Devon Cup next week; a real test of Withycombe's ambitions in the next league up.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Jimmy Holman (1T), Aaron Conway, Joe Parkin, Sam Conway (1T), Glenn Channing (3C, 1P), John Parkin, Liam Cullen, Dave Richards (YC), Phil Sluman, Dave Sims, Matt Bragg, Andrei Toma, Eugene Badenhorst (3T, MoM), Mike Richards (1T). Reps: Dan Carey, Ben Clarke, Adam Morris.

Saltash v Withycombe

Ashes Topple Withy

Saltash come out on top as both sides play to their strengths in ten-try thriller 

Saltash 37
Withycombe 35

Saltash brought Withycombe's 14-game winning streak to an end in a pulsating top of the table clash at Moorlands Lane on Saturday.

After some tight early exchanges, a long range try from Saltash with 23 minutes gone put them 10-0 up with Withycombe looking somewhat rattled. The visitors fought their way back into the game as they reverted to their strength: smash mouth rugby. Withycombe's forwards had their nose to the grindstone as they worked their way up the field, with their scrum once again scoring a pushover try to get them back into the game. More of the same put the visitors in the lead at the break as Withycombe took a stranglehold on the game. The lineout drive was foiled but the pick-and-go opened the door for Andrei Toma to pick up a vital score on his return to first team rugby.

With Danny Sansom sent to the sin bin five minutes before half time, the first five minutes of the second half would always be a challenge for Withycombe, but no one expected what came next. Saltash all but put the game to bed with 12 explosive minutes of all out attack, scoring three long range tries and a penalty to go from 14-10 down to 32-14 up.

Having lost the control that brought them back into game in the first half, the visitors regained some composure and a try from Jon Axon off a lineout drive helped to settle some nerves. Withycombe now trailed by 11 points with 24 minutes still to go. Joe Parkin was sent to the sin bin on 60 minutes but Withycombe still managed another pushover try to bring themselves within four points with eight minutes to play. Yet another long range try from Saltash's back line might have killed Withycombe spirits two years ago, and it certainly created some noise around the clubhouse, but Withycombe weren't quite done yet.

Mike Richards' solo effort from 35 metres out was converted by Glenn Channing to leave Withycombe two points adrift and had the Withycombe fly half's knee not been hurt with a late tackle just a minute into the game, a kickable penalty with 90 seconds left on the clock might have extended Withycombe's unbeaten run. Instead they kicked for the corner, where a knock on 5 metres out was not enough to deter them. After turning over the scrum, a third pushover try was too much to ask and Channing was bundled into touch on the final whistle. The result means Saltash leapfrog Withycombe at the top of the league table on points difference. The Raleigh Park boys must now pick themselves up and send a strong message to the league when Hayle come to visit next week.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Danny Sansom, Aaron Conway, Joe Parkin (YC), Sam Conway, Glenn Channing, John Parkin, Phil Sluman, Dave Richards, Liam Cullen, Jon Axon (1T), Dave Sims, Andrei Toma (1T), Simon Tozer, Mike Richards (3T). Reps: Max Cooke, Richard Hodges, Adam Morris.

Withycombe v Falmouth

Bragging Rites to Withycombe

Green & Black stay top after Matt bags debut try

Withycombe 46
Falmouth 13

Falmouth are the latest to fall foul of free-scoring Withycombe as the Hulham Road boys extended their unbeaten run at the summit of the Cornwall & Devon league.

Falmouth took the lead with a penalty on ten minutes but the rest of the half was one way traffic with Withycombe's pack once again spearheading the charge. A scrum against the head gave quick blindside ball to stand-off Gunboat Channing, whose fleetness of foot took him round the hapless Falmouth winger to score in the corner. After adding a penalty, some good hands from the forwards gave Matt Bragg a debut try, Liam Cullen and the evergreen Dave Sims providing the assist. Falmouth hit back with a penalty on 29 minutes before Withycombe put the game to bed with an explosive ten minute spell.

First Glenn Channing scored a carbon copy of his first try...Almost. Having crossed the whitewash, Channing tried to make the conversion attempt easier but got held up over the line in the process. This only postponed matters as at the ensuing scrum the Withycombe pack gifted No.8 Mike Richards yet another 30cm barnstormer of a try. Channing ended up nailing the conversion from the touchline to add insult to his injured pride.

A break from a midfield scrum by Richards then played man of the match Eugene Badenhorst in, only for the South African to be penalised for a double movement in the act of scoring. After ambitiously tapping on their own line, Falmouth then turned the ball over and John Parkin scored under the posts at the Brook End after a couple of phases. Withycombe then put the exclamation point on the first stanza with a stunning move right from the kickoff. Badenhorst got the move started and after some good link play from the Parkin brothers, Jack Pugsley and Badenhorst again, Joe Parkin crossed the line to make it 34-6 at the break.

In the second half things slowed down a bit as Withycombe took their foot of the accelerator. Glenn Channing's incisive passing allowed Aaron Conway to put Danny Sansom in at Clubhouse Corner, before Falmouth hit back with a try of their own. Kevin Rodwell was a victim of his own enthusiasm as he was sin binned within seconds of taking the field, and Falmouth pounced on the reeling 14 men of Withycombe to claw back some dignity. Withycombe did manage one more try, a charactieristic score from Eugene Badenhorst as he ripped the ball from a Falmouth player on the Falmouth five metre line, before charging through two people for five points.

Withycombe visit Teignmouth in the Devon Intermediate Cup next week before D-Day at second-placed Saltash on the 15th.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley (1T), Sam Conway, Aaron Conway, Jack Pugsley, Joe Parkin (1T, YC), Glenn Channing (1T, 4C, 1P), John Parkin (1T), Dave Wellbeloved, Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Matt Bragg (1T), Dave Sims, Eugene Badenhorst (1T, MoM), Simon Tozer, Mike Richards (1T). Reps: Max Cooke, Richard Hodges, Kevin Rodwell (YC).

Pirates Amateurs v Withycombe

Danny signs off in style!

Parry Swansong Ends Pirates Unbeaten Run

Pirates Amateurs 10
Withycombe 15

Danny Parry’s last game in Withycombe colours left the Green & Black as the lone unbeaten team atop the Cornwall and Devon league last Saturday. The Forest of Dean native is heading home and will be sorely missed but left with a bang at the Mennaye.

With that said, the abiding memory of the game might not be Parry’s last involvement, but rather another Gloucester boy’s contribution. Five minutes in, Dave Sims ripped the ball from a Pirates maul close to their own line and found himself one-on-one with the tryline looming. Sims threw a dummy and walked over untouched to open the scoring.

The other big feature which dominated proceedings was the physicality, reflected in the four yellow cards picked up by Withycombe players. The first to take a rest was Joe Parkin on ten minutes for a tackle on a player deemed to be still in the air. The Withycombe defence held firm as Pirates failed to make use of the one-man advantage.

There was a flurry of yellow cards just before half time, with the home side’s Steve Evans going on 36 minutes before Danny Parry and his opposite number saw yellow for little more than handbags at scrum time. The hosts could count themselves lucky to be going in just 8 points down, Glenn Channing kicking the only penalty goal of Withycombe’s three attempts at the posts.

Pirates looked a different side right after half time, and as Withycombe’s physicality temporarily deserted them, they scored a smash-and-grab try to get themselves back in it. Ten minutes later Withycombe had restored the balance as Simon Tozer scored his first try on English soil from the back of a rolling maul. Channing converted to leave Withycombe two scores in front, both of which they would need! Pirates hit back with a penalty to bring themselves within five points with 23 minutes left on the clock, the majority of which was spent inside the Withycombe half.

Two more yellow cards didn’t help, one for a Tozer tip tackle and one for a high tackle by Dave Wellbeloved with two minutes remaining, but despite some heroics one the tryline, at the scrum and a lot of pressure at the breakdown, the visitors somehow kept conceding penalties. On reflection the hosts might kick themselves for not shooting at goal but the gutsy Withycombe defence held out for the finest win of their eight on the trot this year. Next week Falmouth visit Raleigh Park before a real test of Withycombe’s ambition comes in the form of a cup tie at Teignmouth, high flyers in Western Counties.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Sam Conway, Aaron Conway, Joe Parkin (YC), Kevin Rodwell, Glenn Channing (1C, 1P), John Parkin, David Wellbeloved (YC), Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Jon Axon, Dave Sims (1T), Simon Tozer (1T, YC), Danny Parry (YC, MoM), Mike Richards. Reps: Eugene Badenhorst, Adam Morris, Danny Sansom.

Withycombe v Exeter Saracens

All Roads Lead to Penzance

Withycombe brush aside struggling Saracens on their way to Pirates D-Day

Withycombe 47
Exeter Saracens 0

Withycombe made it seven from seven and secured the bonus point to stay top, but all eyes will be on this Saturday's crunch visit to deepest Cornwall. Pirates Amateurs are the only other unbeaten side in the league, and will surely have designs on taking the Green & Black down a notch, whilst Withycombe will be looking to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

This was no victory parade though; Saracens came to play and made life difficult for the home side early on. Indeed, it was twenty minutes before the first score when Jack Pugsley seized the initiative on a kick chase to touch down before converting his own try. Saracens then suffered the twin blows of missing a penalty shot at goal and being hit with the immediate counterpunch of a Withycombe breakaway try. With the home pack in trouble, Leo Hood worked some space before a nice one-two between Joe Parkin and Danny Sansom ended with the former putting the finishing touches on an eighty metre score. Withycombe lost Aaron Conway to the sin bin just before the break but headed in 14 points to the good.

Starting the half with only 14 men, Withycombe showed their intent by their penalty decisions: there would be no running down of the clock. Twice they kicked to the corner, the second ultimately ending in a powerful try for Dave Wellbeloved, but their set drive looked beleaguered. Overall, niggling injuries to veteran lock pairing Dave Sims and Jon Axon remain a worry, though Tim Wils and Max Cooke acquitted themselves well as the pack held steady against a resilient Saracens front eight.

The hosts wrapped up the bonus point on the quarter hour when Kevin Rodwell ran in the simplest of finishes from a set piece move as Withycombe's dynamism in the back division continued to prove the difference between the sides. Withycombe then scored three more tries in a frantic last twelve minutes as first a chip through by Eugene Badenhorst saw Adam Morris keep up his impressive scoring record, before the supersub turned provider for Aaron Conway to run under the posts unchallenged. Kevin Rodwell added the cherry in the best fashion possible by scoring in clubhouse corner; a quick tap after skipper John Parkin was taken out off the ball caught Saracens napping and Withycombe put the ball through the hands until the visitors ran out of defenders. Withycombe wil be looking to run Pirates ragged in a similar fashion next week, while the second XV look to bounce back from a disappointing 7-3 defeat at Brixham as the Exmouth Nomads make the long trip up Marine Way to Raleigh Park.

Withycombe: Danny Sansom, Leo Hood, Aaron Conway (1T, YC), Joe Parkin (1T), Kevin Rodwell (2T), Jack Pugsley (1T, 6C), John Parkin, Dave Wellbeloved (1T), Liam Cullen, Max Cooke, Tim Wills, Mike Richards, Richard Hodges, Ben Clarke, Simon Tozer. Reps: Eugene Badenhorst, Danny Parry, Adam Morris (1T).

Paignton v Withycombe

Paignton 28

Withycombe 37

Withycombe escaped Queens Park with a bonus point win to keep themselves top, but Paignton gave them plenty to think about before D-Day in Penzance in two weeks.

The visitors started strongly, with a Mike Richards run setting the platform for John Parkin to score a smash-and-grab try with just three minutes on the clock. Paignton replied soon after with a counter-attack try to level the scores at 7-7.

Withycombe's scrum dominance may be on the wane but Ben Clarke found a gap with a pick-and-go and raced over to put Withycombe back in front. Paignton fought their way back into the game and a period of ill discipline from Withycombe saw the hosts kick one penalty and miss two more as Mike Richards was the man in green and black who finally wore out the referee's patience, being sent for a ten minute rest just before the half hour.

Paignton made the most of their advantage as they scored ten points with the extra man. First they hit back with a try after making some inroads with their forwards, before adding another penalty. With the sides even again, Withycombe managed to win a penalty just inside ther own half which Glenn Channing pushed wide to see out the half.

The second half started with Withycombe in the unfamiliar position of chasing the lead, but they played their best rugby when it mattered. A Joe Parkin break was snuffed out with a high tackle, resulting in a yellow card for Paignton's full back. Mike Richards scored two trademark close range tries to put Withycombe back in control but Glenn Channing's wayward boot kept Paignton within reach.

Paignton hit back with a try from their Number 8, his fleetness of foot outrunning the Withycombe forwards to give Paignton the lead back in what was fast becoming a ding-dong affair. Withycombe's suffocating back line defence then hit back with another counterpunch as Aaron Conway's charge-down gave him a short range score Mike Richards would have been proud of!

A Glenn Channing penalty with five minutes remaining put Withycombe two scores in front, and the sides traded penalties as Paignton battled to get something from the game. They looked as though they would get their bonus point reward, alas the kick was pushed wide after the clock had run out.

Withycombe now march to six wins from six and welcome Exeter Saracens to Raleigh Park next weekend for what should be a formality, if they can keep their front eight fit. Injuries to Dave Sims and Jon Axon will not help matters but strength in depth is growing and the second team had plenty of players stake their claim as the overcame Cullompton 34-22. Roll on next week!

Withycombe: Danny Sansom, Sam Conway, Aaron Conway (1T), Joe Parkin, Kevin Rodwell, Glenn Channing (3C, 2P), John Parkin (1T), Dave Wellbeloved, Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Dave Sims, Tim Wills, Ben Clarke (1T), Danny Parry, Mike Richards (2T, YC). Reps: Max Cooke, Richard Hodges, Jack Pugsley.

Withycombe v Crediton

Withycombe 11

Crediton 10

Withycombe captain John Parkin praised his troops for the "commitment, effort and passion they are showing" after grinding out a win in the trenches at Raleigh Park to make it five wins from five.

It was only the fifth game of the season, but this fixture between the two unbeaten free-scoring teams was already being talked up as though it could have promotion ramifications later in the season. Unfortunately what promised to be a mouthwatering spectacle turned into a dribbling mess at times, with nerves appearing to get the better of both sides at crucial moments and officiating which didn't allow either side to show what they were really capable of.

After Crediton missed a penalty in the first minute, Withycombe had the better of the opening exchanges, and a scrum taken against the head on 12 minutes gave quick ball to Glenn Channing who powered over the tryline in trademark fashion. Three minutes later Channing added a penalty to take the score to 8-0, but that would spell the end of Withycombe's dominance for a while. The second quarter turned into a real slobber knocker, with Crediton making the most of some soft penalties against veteran lock Dave Sims' destructive work in the maul to keep Withycombe penned in.

After the first of many controversial breakdown penalties, Crediton kicked to the corner and their rolling maul took them over, a touchline conversion maing it 8-7. Withycombe would have to hold on another 12 minutes resiting further Crediton forays into Clubhouse Corner but tehir stoic defence held strong.

After half time a game of rugby threatened to break out between the lineout infringements and breakdown penalties as both sides attempted to build some rhythm. The ruck area became something of a lottery and both sides made the most of the lenient offside line as defence smothered attack on both sides and shut down the creativity trying to break out.

The only points produced in the workmanlike second half came from the boots of Channing and Mark Lee as they traded penalties two minutes apart with an hour on the clock, although Withycombe dominated the territory battle and came closest to scoring with a 40-metre rolling maul which was pulled down with the tryline begging. Lee missed two more penalties including a speculative punt from his own half with the last kick of the game, but both sides will come away thinking they could have done better.

Still, Parkin was delighted with the win he described an an "8-pointer" and Withycombe's winning start to the season continues. Next week Withycombe travel to Paignton hoping to make it six from six.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Sam Conway, Danny Sansom, Joe Parkin, Kevin Rodwell, Glenn Channing (1T, 2PG), John Parkin, Dave Wellbeloved, Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Jon Axon, Dave Sims, Danny Parry, Simon Tozer, Mike Richards. Reps: Andrei Toma, Ben Clarke, Aaron Conway.

OPM v Withycombe

O's Blown Away by Withy First Half Heroics

OPM 10

Withycombe 51

Withycombe's first-half display was enough to get the job done at Elburton, but four yellow cards take the gloss off the latest league five pointer

Another bonus point win keeps Withycombe at the top of the fledgling Cornwall & Devon table, and the strength in depth at Withycombe is really starting to pay dividends: Andrei Toma, Aaron Conway, Adam Morris and Eugene Badenhorst all played for the second team this week after starring in last week's impressive 29-5 win against Bude, and debuts were given to Simon Tozer and Ben Clarke whie Tim Wills and Kevin Rodwell returned to the first team fold.

The Plymothians took the lead with a first-minute penalty but the rest of the half was all one-way traffic. Glenn Channing replied with two penalty goals of his own to make it 6-3 with quarter of an hour on the clock, before the tries started.

The breakthrough came when Withycombe turned defence into attack on 18 minutes. The home side clearly put a lot of eggs in the basket of their big pack;that is, until a driving maul from an OPM lineout in Withycombe territory was manhandled by Jon Axon. The gargantuan Withycombe second row waded into the set maul and emerged with the ball, setting in motion a move which released Sam Conway down the blindside. Just when it loked like Conway was caught with no support metres from the line, he released the ball, got to his feet and picked the ball up again to take two defenders over the line with him in his own show of strength.

OPM then suffered the sin binning of their second row and conceded 14 points while he was off the pitch. First Glenn Channing took advantage of a hole in the home defence to run in virtually untouched, then just a minute later John Parkin's keen eye spotted that no-one was home and his box kick on halfway turned into a jumbo chip-and-chase as he gathered and touched down with no-one within 15 metres of him.

Kevin Rodwell might have scored a similar try on the half hour were it not for the cruellest of bounces, but his inability to gather the ball gave OPM a scrum on their own five metre line. With the home scrum back to full strength, Withycombe turned the ball over and No. 8 Mike Richards went himself for yet another short-range five-pointer to secure the bonus point.

Right before halftime OPM caught the Withycombe defence napping as one of their big lumps picked right through the middle of a ruck and ran in what would turn out to be a consolation try to make the score at the interval 30-10.

In the second half he Plymothians' only hope was to rattle some green and black cages; whilst this produced four Withycombe sin bins, the vistors also ran in three more opportunistic tries whilst keeping their hosts out.

First to cross was debutant Ben Clarke who was on hand for an offload from Joe Parkin following a scrum taken against the head. The young openside showed the defence a clean pair of heels as he raced in from 40 metres out. Twin yellow cards for John Parkin and Jack Pugsley kept Withycombe on the back foot for 15 minutes, but the re-introduction of "club JP" brought about almost instant results; a quickly taken free kick opening the door for Danny Sansom to grab five points. Sam Conway completed the scoring after a quickly taken lineout from Kevin Rodwell gave the Bicton youngster room to run. Conway's sashaying run bamboozled the OPM defenders and Channing kicked his fifth conversion to make it 51-10. Late yellow cards to John Parkin and new Aussie recruit Simon Tozer highlighted a disciplinary "work-on" for Wiithycombe, but the Clubhouse Corner faithful can't ask for much more than played 4, 20 points. Saturday sees unbeaten Crediton make the trip to Hulham Road for a derby game that has "Raleigh Park Classic" written all over it.

Jack Pugsley (YC), Sam Conway (2T), Danny Sansom (1T), Joe Parkin, Kevin Rodwell, Glenn Channing (1T, 5C, 2PG), John Parkin (1T, 2YC), David Wellbeloved, Liam Cullen, Phil Sluman, Jon Axon, Dave Sims, Danny Parry, Ben Clarke (1T), Mike Richards (1T). Reps: Max Cooke, Tim Wills, Simon Tozer (YC).

Withycombe v Bude

Green & Black Overcome Yellow-Stained Bude

Withycombe 29

Bude 5

Withycombe continued their 100% start to the season on Saturday with a bonus-point win against former Western Counties outfit Bude in a bad-tempered clash at Raleigh Park.

After a first-minute penalty from Glenn Channing put the hosts in front, the early exchanges were nip and tuck, with the experienced Bude pack putting Withycombe under pressure they won't have experienced for some time! With last season's captain Dave Richards injured, Fridge Gibbons in Australia and Phil Sluman missing from the front row, Withycombe's front row had an unfamiliar look to it but stood up well. Second generation Withy boy Max Cooke made his first team debut at the tender age of 18 and earned himself a joint man of the match award for his efforts. Bude's bully-boy tactics wouldn't yield any results until half an hour into the game though, when Jon Axon was sent to the sin bin for the latest in a long line of maul offences in the home 22. Bude once again went to the driving maul and crashed over to nudge themselves in front.

14-man Withycombe hit straight back when Glenn Channing barged through the 10 channel and scrambled over from 15 metres out to put Withycombe 8-5 up at half time. 

It turned out to be a textbook game of two halves as Withycombe turned the table on Bude's pack. With a Bude player sent to the sin bin for the same offence and in the same spot as Jon Axon twenty minutes previously, Withycombe's driving maul gave Liam Cullen a try to the rapturous reception of Clubhouse Corner, with Channing nailing the touchline conversion. Bude's frustration began to show as the game wore on; thankfully the home side rose above the nonsense and Bude ended up with 4 yellow cards.

Glenn Channing grabbed his brace on 52 minutes when he again smashed through the fly-half channel and touched down after trying to take the goalpost with him. The conversion put the game beyond Bude and left only the question of whether Withycombe would take maximum points from the game. Dave Wellbeloved answered that question quite emphatically ten minutes later when some fantastic phase play left the giant prop in acres of space near Clubhouse Corner. Channing's miss-pass put "Wellby" over and the fly-half added the conversion to take his personal tally to 19 points.

Withycombe travel to OPMs next weekend with the second team playing the reverse fixture at Raleigh Park.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Sam Conway, Aaron Conway, Joe Parkin, Adam Morris, Glenn Channing (2T, 3C, 1PG, MoM), John Parkin, Max Cooke (YC, MoM), Liam Cullen (1T), Dave Wellbeloved (1T), Jon Axon (YC), Dave Sims, Danny Parry, Andrei Toma, Mike Richards. Reps: Eugene Badenhorst, Terry Mears, Danny Sansom.

Withycombe v Liskeard-Looe

Withycombe 67

Liskeard-Looe 0

It looks like a long season in store for whipping boys Liskeard after they succumbed to their second drubbing in as many weeks at the hands of Withycombe.

It was clear from the start that the visitors would struggle when a scrum lost against the head led to a Withycombe break down the blind side, Adam Morris setting the platform for fly-half Lee Tanton to score the opener. Not one minute later the advantage had been doubled as another scrum lost against the head gave Joe Parkin the impetus to chip ahead, the ball sitting up just in time for brother John Parkin to dot down.

It was not long before Withycombe bothered the scoreboard again, this time from their own scrum. An inside pass to John Parkin put the Withycombe skipper in behind the visitors' defence, Parkin then dispatching the simple 2-on-1 to put Adam Morris in for the try. Lee Tanton converted to make it 17-0. Liskeard fought back temporarily, applying pressure in the Withycombe half until a Joe Parkin interception was returned all the way from the home 22 and seemed to break the visitors' spirit as the bonus point was secured inside 17 minutes.

Withycombe then scored twice through No. 8 Mike Richards before the half time whistle to firmly put the result beyond doubt. First came a trademark pop 'n' flop after a blindside break from Andrei Toma, then an armchair ride of a pushover scrum with the monstrous figures of Jon Axon and Dave Sims and the front row of Dave Wellbeloved, Dave Richards and Liam Cullen making things comfortable.

The second half saw more one-way traffic as Withycombe wasted no time getting the scoreboard ticking again. Jack Pugsley's return from the wilderness has proved time well spent; his second-half appearance from the bench brought him 18 points and it was his break that set off the scoring. His offload saw Adam Morris make good ground before threading his return pass between the backtracking defence to send Pugsley clear. Straight from the kickoff Withycombe were in again, Phil Sluman's rumble setting the platform for another Joe Parkin assist for brother John to touch down. 

A set move from the Withycombe scrum provided the next score as supersub Danny Parry crashed over from close range, before Pugsley bagged his brace. Richard Hodges had gone close before dropping the ball on the line, only for Withycombe to win the ball back at the scrum; the ball went directly to Pugsley who took the most direct route to the line possible. Withycombe wrapped up the scoring in fitting fashion as man of the match Dave Wellbeloved bulldozed over from 5 metres out, carrying half the hapless Liskeard defence with him.

Withycombe's points difference has shot them to the top of the league after their first two games against promoted sides, but former Western Counties outfit Bude promise to be a different proposition at Raleigh Park next week.

Withycombe: Leo Hood, Adam Morris (1T), Aaron Conway, Joe Parkin (1T), Andrei Toma, Lee Tanton (1T, 2C), John Parkin (2T), Dave Wellbeloved (1T, MoM), Dave Richards, Liam Cullen, Jon Axon, Dave Sims, Terry Mears, Richard Hodges, Mike Richards (2T). Reps: Phil Sluman, Danny Parry (1T), Jack Pugsley (2T, 4C).

Withycombe v Bodmin

Withycombe 26
Bodmin 15

Withycombe have much to be hopeful for as a rusty performance was still enough to comfortably earn them a bonus-point victory against a determined Bodmin side.

The Cornwall & Devon new boys were full of vim following ther 40-point demolition job on local rivals Liskeard in the Cornwall Cup last week, but ran into rather stiffer opposition at Raleigh Park. After an early penalty opportunity sailed wide, Bodmin didn't really worry the scorekeepers until the end of the half. WIthycombe were industrious but lacking a finishing touch for much of the opening exchanges, despite having the upper hand at the set piece.

After 20 minutes the early season jitters settled somewhat when a simple set piece move cut the Bodmin defence wide open for Adam Morris to open the scoring under the posts. Glenn Channing converted, but that would be as good as Withycombe got until the second half. Bodmin slotted a penalty on 38 minutes to close the gap to 7-3, before Withycombe's best move of the match took them half the length of the pitch with half a dozen offloads, but the lack of a decisive edge showed again as the move came to nothing.

The result was all but decided after two minutes of action that effectively put Bodmin to bed. First, Glenn Channing threw two dummies and found himself in acres of space 40 metres from the Bodmin line. Like a dog waking itself up with a fart, Channing was more startled than the onlookers and just ran, his diesel-powered engine taking him under the posts. Then, from the kickoff Withycombe moved the ball wide early and a characteristic John Parkin break feeding Kev Rodwell before Aaron Conway finished the score. Channing again converted to make it 21-3 with 47 minutes gone.

It should have been plain sailing from there, but Withycombe's indiscipline had them pinned back in their own half. Terry Mears was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle, and while he was away Bodmin's backs used the territorial advantage to finally put the ball through the hands, making some space out wide and scoring in the corner to make it 21-8 with ten minutes remaining. Withycombe hit back with a quick tap penalty from John Parkin, with some clever hands giving Mears a chance to redeem his yellow card by scoring the bonus point try. Bodmin had a reply of their own with another well-worked backs try after their attempt at a lineout drive was stymied. With Bodmin chasing a losing bonus point in the dying seconds, Withycombe almost managed a breakaway try after a loose ball was hacked on but the chasers were too slow for Bodmin's covering full back. If Withycombe can build on this performance then improvement on last season's third place could be a realistic target. Next week Raleigh Park sees the 1st XV host Liskeard-Looe.

Danny Sansom, Kev Rodwell, Aaron Conway (1T), Joe Parkin (MoM), Adam Morris (1T), Glenn Channing (1T3C), John Parkin, David Wellbeloved, Dave Richards, Liam Cullen, Dave Sims, Jon Axon, Danny Parry, Terry Mears (1T, YC), Richard Hodges. Reps: Andrei Toma, Mike Richards, Leo Hood.

Withycombe v Ongar

Withycombe lose in cruellest of turns

 

Withycombe 87

Ongar 17

Ongar snatch victory from their hosts in the unlikeliest of fashions

 

The teams make up after the travesty
           

Withycombe welcomed refreshingly old-fashioned tourists Ongar for a run-out on Saturday afternoon, and succumbed to defeat despite dominating the game.

By the time the game kicked off at 1pm, the visitors had made the club financially viable for another season, quenching their healthy appetite in the club bar.

Referee James Grant was on uncharacteristically good form allowing the game to flow and of course penalising the home side for any instances of kicking the ball. Despite their handicap, Ongar were more handicapped and Withycombe ran in try after try.

In a very impolite move, someone was keeping score and the board read 87-10 to the home side with five minutes remaining, so Grant did the decent thing and declared the next try to be the winning score.

In an astonishing turn of events, a loose pass on the Withycombe 22 was scooped up enthusiastically by the tourists and returned for the decisive five-pointer.

Any ill-will felt by the home side at the injustice was soon brushed aside as the teams convened in the bar afterward. All in all, as tourists go Ongar are right up there, Withycombe definitely owe them a visit and would happily recommend them to anyone! Five stars *****

Withycombe v Totnes (Oliver Marsden Trophy)

Withycombe regain Oliver Marsden Trophy
 

Withycombe XV 33
Totnes XV 26

£250 raised for Cardiac Risk in the Young charity after Withycombe hold on to avenge last year's hammering

Withycombe and Totnes provided a spectacle of rugby to cap off their respective seasons and celebrate the life of former player Ollie Marsden on Sunday at Raleigh Park.

Ollie, just 21, collapsed at a training session in Totnes in 2008 and could not be revived. He played for Withycombe while a student at Rolle College and had been a popular member of both clubs. Since then the clubs have met annually to contest the memorial trophy and raise money for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Withycombe lost the fixture for the first time last year in a very one-sided contest at Totnes, a repeat of which the hosts were understandably keen to avoid!

Withycombe flew out of the blocks and peppered the Totnes line with attack after attack, but it wasn't until Mike Richards worked a hole before offloading to Joe Parkin that the scoring commenced, Parkin racing over from 30 metres out. Minutes later Leo Hood had the opportunity to double the advantage but dropped the ball with the tryline begging.

In spite of the conditions, the home side looked most dangerous when they moved the ball quickly. A few quick recycles opened up the space down the left flank and Joe Parkin hacked ahead with Lee Tanton winning the foot race to dive on the ball in the in-goal area. Kevin "K-Train" Rodwell was next to score as he showed his pace and power away down the left flank, before circling back round under the posts.

Totnes got a try of their own, but Withycombe had the final word in the first half as Leo Hood showed off his soccer skills as Totnes again failed to deal with a kick, before Hood was held back and Chris Gibbons cut the unlikeliest of figures diving on the loose ball to score in his last game before departing to Australia.

With the score at 28-7, the game looked won but Totnes fought their way back into it, no doubt aided by Withycombe's exploits with a visiting touring side the previous day! After two well-worked tries and Withycombe's unwillingness to put pace into the game, the home side didn't look like scoring for much of the second half. That was until Richards and Parkin again combined for a score. A quick tap taken deep in the Withycombe half put the defence on the back foot and no one was catching Parkin once he got in behind the visitors defence. After his spotless first half from the tee, Tanton struggled kicking uphill and missed the ensuing conversion attempt to keep Totnes within two scores.

They got back one try to put themselves within touching distance but it was too little too late, and Withycombe held on as normal service was resumed in the Marsden Memorial game.

On the day, £250 was raised for the charity and the game was played in great spirit. Long may the tradition continue!

Withycombe v Crediton

Withycombe 23

Crediton 20

Withycombe signed off their season with a tenth win in 11 games in a hard-fought win over local rivals Crediton on Saturday.

With third spot in the league standings up for grabs, the Raleigh Park faithful were in for a treat as both sides came out with all guns blazing. A frantic initial burst from Withycombe gave Jack Pugsley the opening points of the game as he slotted a penalty with just a minute gone, and after the home side soaked up the pressure from a Crediton onslaught, Pugsley and Mark Lee exchanged penalty kicks to make the score 6-3.

 

Withycombe finally got over the tryline with a superbly taken counter attack try on 24 minutes. Rob Hayes made the initial break down the right wing, before passing inside to Adam Morris who lass beat the last man, allowing Richard Hodges to dash under the posts. Crediton again piled on the pressure before half time, but their only reward was Chris Gibbons' first yellow card of his career on 35 minutes as Withycombe turned round 13-3 up.

Gibbons' absence would cost Withycombe a penalty just before his reintroduction though as Crediton got the best of the home scrum for the only time in the game, allowing Lee to close the gap to seven points with a penalty conversion. The balance was redressed 6 minutes later when Withycombe won a scrum against the head going uphill on the Crediton 5 metre line, with Mike Richards running over two hapless Crediton defenders on his way to the tryline.

Crediton hit back with a try after Withycombe repeatedly failed to clear their lines to bring themselves back within five points, but the Green & Blacks hit back immediately. After two quick phases, Dave Richards, who had started the game moonlighting at fly-half rather than his usual position of hooker, was now playing blindside flanker and put Aaron Conway away in the top corner with the finest of miss-passes to extend Withycombe's lead to ten points with 24 minutes to go.

Withy once again struggled to work their way out of their own half, but Crediton would have to wait until the 75th minute to score, and even then it would come as a result of a charged down clearance kick. With the game in the balance again, Withycombe turned it on and drove the Crediton scrum back over their own line in the final play of the game. John Parkin was unlucky not to be awarded the bonus point try after he grounded the ball but the roar of Clubhouse Corner as the final whistle sounded was ample reward for the players' efforts. Withycombe supporters can surely look forward to a fruitful year next season on the back of the run since Christmas.

Withycombe v Pirates

Withycombe 69

Pirates Amateurs 8

Withycombe romped to another bumper scoreline in the wet in their penultimate game of the season last Saturday.

Jack Faulkner bagged four tries to take his tally to 12 in four games, but the match was well and truly decided up front as the Withycombe front five demolished the opposition.

Withycombe were straight on the offensive and it only took four minutes to break the deadlock. A deft chip from Glenn Channing penned the visitors on their own five metre line, and from the ensuing penalty Withycombe opted for the scrum which brought the now-obligatory Mike Richards short-range try. Another scrum in clubhouse corner two minutes later wheeled and Richards' pick and offload to Glenn Channing put him in for five of his 19 points on the day.

Pirates hit back with a penalty kick but Withycombe were in for another try on the quarter hour, some great handling leading to Aaron Conway playing provider for Leo Hood to touch down. The game went flat from a spectators' point of view for twenty minutes, but the Green & Black dominance at the set piece meant that Withycombe rarely had cause for concern; Chris Gibbons' masterclass in destructive scrummaging demonstrating what will be sorely missed once he leaves the club for Australia in the summer.

In the five minutes before half time the home side clinched the bonus point and effectively put the game to bed. Jack Faulkner scored twice, first finishing off a three-quarter move before a blindside move from a scrum in the Withycombe half let the Bicton College youngster show his lethal pace as he finished from 70 yards out. The teams turned round at 33-3 with Withycombe's best yet to com

Joe Parkin opened the scoring in the second half after good work from Rob Hayes and Andrei Toma, before Faulkner struck again after some silky handling from Leo Hood. The visitors grabbed a try of their own on 60 minutes as a defensive miscount allowed one the Pirates big boys under the posts, but their day was summed up when the conversion was missed. Four minutes later the try was cancelled out as Mike Richards strolled in from a tap penalty for the "easiest try he'll ever score", although he does score a lot of easy ones, before offloading from a quick tap in the Withycombe half four minutes later to Faulkner, whose finishing has to be seen to be believed, outrunning everyone from the centre of the field for yet another long-range score.

Richards completed his hat-trick after running on to a John Parkin offload and somehow finishing off from 40 metres out, before Withycombe scored with the last play of the game, another effort from their on half which was finished off by John Parkin.

 

Next week Withycombe host Crediton to decide third place in the league, with Withy also chasing a ninth win in ten games since Christmas.

Withycombe v OPM

Withy return to winning ways with five-try victory over Plymothians

 

Withycombe 29

OPM 20

 

Withycombe got back in the winning habit with a physical but workmanlike performance against their wizened mid-table opponents.

 

Their margin of victory might have been convincing but for 9 missed points from the tee and a last-play try which closed the difference to nine.

 

A missed penalty chance was Withycombe’s only return for their first quarter efforts while both sides were duking it out for physical supremacy. The home side took the lead on 25 minutes with Will Cole busting over from close range, only for the visitors to hit back just five minutes later to cut the lead to 5-3.

 

Jack Faulkner had another strong showing after his six-try demolition of Newquay three weeks ago, and it was one of his long breaks (in spite of the close attention he was being paid) that teed up Mike Richards for a characteristic close range flop to guide Withycombe to a 10-3 half time lead.

OPM had the running of the early second half, and kicked one of their two penalty chances to pull the score back to 10-6 before Withycombe’s indiscipline cost them a player to the sin bin; Jon Axon being the rather large straw that finally broke the camel’s back in this strong visual metaphor.

This only served to whip Withy into shape though, they hit back while playing with 14 men as Gunboat Glenn Channing made a half-break which allowed Adam Morris to score in Clubhouse Corner, Jack Pugsley converting to make it 17-6.

 

With seven minutes to go, OPMs scored a try under the posts to close the gap to 17-13 but this again seemed to invigorate the home side as they scored two tries on the bounce to finally vanquish their worthy opponents. Offloading was at the heart of both tries as Aaron Conway benefitted first before the very welcome sight of Rob Hayes scoring for Withycombe again was seen straight from the ensuing kickoff. At 29-13 with a minute to go, the game was won but Withycombe were still keen to attack. A handling error clos the OPM line gave the visitors a scrum and the final attack of the game, where they ran from behind their own line to score under the posts at the Brook End.

Withycombe’s next home game is against Pirates Amateurs on the 5^th April, with the season finale the following week as Crediton visit Raleigh Park.

Tiverton v Withycombe

Tiverton 14

Withycombe 13

 

Withycombe came out second best in the second meeting between what appears to be the Cornwall & Devon league's best-matched sides.

Tiverton bested Withycombe 17-14 at Raleigh Park earlier in the season despite leading for only 4 of the game's 80 minutes, and this game was to prove just as "nip-and-tuck".

The scoreboard remained untroubled for 35 minutes, with the majority of the play in the Withycombe half. Withy rode their luck at times, and Tiverton might have been a score or two up had they taken the points rather than seek tries in presumptuous pursuit of the bonus point.

With Glenn Channing sent to the sin bin on 30 minutes though, Tiverton put their one-man advantage to good use, moving the ball wide on an overlap and scoring the opener.

 

Ten minutes into the second half, Withycombe hit back. Chris Gibbons provided a powerhouse display, exemplifying the Withycombe front five all day, and after several strong scrums on the Tiverton five metre line the ball was moved wide with a penalty advantage, not that Jack Pugsley needed it as he barged his way over in the corner. There was some controversy over the conversion as Channing and most of the touchline convinced it had gone over, but the touch judge calling it wide as it sailed high over the post.

 

Shortly afterwards, frustration with Tiverton's shenanigans at the breakdown boiled over as Phil Sluman saw red in every sense of the word. Withycombe would have to play the remaining half hour with 14 men, though fortunately the penalty sailed wide and seemed to galvanise the away side. The touch judges made no mistake with Channing's 60-minute penalty to nudge Withycombe in front, before supersub Leo Hood's first touch proved magic with a chip and chase solo effort to score in the corner.

Withycombe's precarious six-point lead would not last, alas, as a mistake from the kickoff gave the impetus straight back to the home side. A sustained period of pressure in the Withycombe 22 ended with an impressive short side move that gave Tivvy a score in the corner, the nerveless touchline conversion putting them back in front with minutes to go.

Though Withycombe's hearts were willing, the legs were tired and Tiverton's astute kicking kept Withycombe in their own half until the final whistle. Heartbreak for Withycombe, but after seven straight wins, pushing the runaway promotion winners this close at home will give some idea of what may be possible next year. Next week sees Tavistock visit Raleigh Park for a second team clash, before league rugby resumes on the 22nd with the visit of Old Plymothian & Mannameadians.

Withycombe v Newquay

Six-try Faulkner puts Withy in Seventh Heaven

Withycombe 72

Newquay Hornets 0

Withycombe's seventh win on the bounce since Christmas has set up a mouthwatering clash with title-chasing Tiverton next week, but the talk of the village on Saturday night was Jack Faulkner, who set a club record in bagging six tries in a league match.

Straight out of the blocks Faulkner was a menace, carving up from a set piece and offloading to Adam Morris to open the scoring. Six minutes later Mike Richards used the scrum to score Withycombe's second with a pushover effort. Faulkner then opened his account after a scrum won against the head gave him space to finish in the corner from distance. Richard Hodges then scored after some great interplay from the forwards and backs to wrap up the bonus point by half-time. At 24-0, Withycombe were comfortably in the driving seat in all departments, with Newquay struggling to win any first-phase ball whatsoever.

In the second half though Withycombe, and Faulkner in particular, put on the afterburners to leave Newquay trailing in their wake. First a loose ball from a Newquay lineout was snaffled by the home side, Glenn Channing spotting a wide-open Faulkner on the far side and putting the cross-field kick in acres of space for Faulkner's second. A minute later a kick ahead was regathered by Faulkner before outpacing the defence to cap his first hat-trick.

Not content with outpacing and outflanking the Hornets defence, Withycombe were keen to show that they could go through the opposition too. A couple of impressive driving maul tries, first from Will Cole and then Fridge Gibbons, put them 46-0 ahead, before it was back to business as usual with Leo Hood putting Faulkner away for his fourth. Richard Hodges got on the end of another bit of nice interplay from the forwards and backs before being shown a yellow card, not that it seemed to matter as Faulkner scored two length-of-the-field tries to round off his second hat-trick.

Withycombe 2nd XV narrowly went down at Crediton in the Merit Table. From 24-14 up, the sin binning of Glyn Cooke and Josh Bancroft cost them dearly as Crediton came back to win 26-24. Tries cam from Glen Layton (2), Keegan Ferreday and Neil Sharland. Layton kicked two conversions.

Exeter Saracens v Withycombe

Saracens Succumb to Second Half Onslaught

 

Exeter Saracens 7

Withycombe 47

 

Freddie Fraser signed off for Withycombe with a hard-fought win that was not as straightforward as the scoreline would suggest.

 

With Fraser moving onto bigger things at National Two outfit Taunton, Withycombe managed to blood another two debutants, although Richard Hodges, beset by transport issue,s had to make his first appearance from the bench as penance for turning up after kickoff, allowing Tim Wills and evergreen Al Loaring to step into the breach. 

 

The ballast that provided in the scrum was immediately apparent, as Withycombe were comfortably on top, disrupting Sarries' own ball and making chances for themselves on their own feed. unfortunately, with the exception of a well-taken try on 12 minutes, their efforts went mostly unrewarded in the first half, to Phil Sluman's audible frustration at times.

 

Sam Conway snatched that only first-half score, after the "Richards One-Two" was used to devastating effect with Dave putting brother Mike through a hole just about big enough to accommodate him, before offloading back to Dave, with the supporting Sluman hauled down just before the line. Quick ball put Conway over in the corner for his 5th try of the season.

 

With Saracens narrowly escaping the concession of either a pushover or penalty try from a  series of close-quarter Withycombe scrums, it looked as though the great escape may be on when the teams turned round at only 5-0. 

 

Withycombe again had the run of the play as the second half started. With the wind at the back now, and with Sarries' centre partnership of Mat Hilton and Ben Croft under very close surveillance from Fraser and Aaron Conway, the pressure started to build. Mike Richards notched another try on 44 minutes, with Sam Conway adding a second on 52 as he rounded his man and raced underneath the posts. Saracens skipper Mat Hilton did make the most of a huge overlap with 20 minutes to go to bring the score back to 19-7, but Withycombe replied almost immediately, with No.8 Dan James finally scoring the pushover try after workmanlike Withy pushed the home pack over their own line for the third time that day.

 

After that, the home resistance evaporated somewhat as Jack Faulkner unleashed himself. With the visiting backs playing fast and loose, Faulkner's pace and agility got him a brace of tries, one either side of a lacklustre Mike Richards five-pointer. Jack Pugsley nailed all the second-half conversions to give the Green & Blacks an impressive winning scoreline of 47-7.

 

Struggling Newquay Hornets visit Raleigh Park next week for a fixture skipper Dave Richards calls a "potential banana skin". Said Richards: "Hopefully the firmer ground will let us get our exciting backs into the game, but Newquay like to play as well so we'll have to put in 110%".

Withycombe v Veor

Veor swept away by Green & Black tide

Withycombe 50

Veor 5

(Match abandoned after 60 minutes)

 

Basement boys Veor concede 50 in 60 minutes as Withycombe's wet weather gear gets more use!

 

Veor remain adrift at the bottom of the Cornwall & Devon league following a lesson in wet weather rugby at Raleigh Park.

Following yet another week of inclement meteorological conditions, Withycombe's ground staff again earned high praise for their workmanlike efforts in getting the pitch ready. By now the Green and Black Army ought to be the best in the west in the wet, their last five outings coming in washouts, and all wins at that. Veor are to be applauded for assembling a side at late notice; at 12 noon they were due to forfeit the fixture as they only had 13 players. As it was they somehow amassed 15 bodies by kick-off and it was game on.

Withycombe showed their hand early, showing no mercy as  they moved the ball wide off a stolen lineout with Sam Conway finishing with a try with just three minutes on the clock. Seven minutes later Fridge Gibbons popped up on the wing (as he is wont to do) to ghost over in exactly the spot front row compatriot Will Cole had three weeks previously. Channing hit the touchline conversion to make it 14-0.

On 22 minutes a five metre scrum gave the home side the platform to run a simple blindside move for Adam Morris to score in the corner. Two minutes later John Parkin secured the bonus point by hacking a loose ball from the back of a Veor scrum and falling on it in the in-goal area.
Veor spent a while after this camped in the Withycombe 22, exerting great amounts of pressure but ultimately coming away with nothing. Some great last-ditch defending from the home side covered for their penalty count and a Withycombe turnover relieved the pressure.

Soon after Veor spirits were crushed from a scrum move, as Aaron Conway worked a half-gap and popped inside to Mike Richards. Another inside pass to Jack Pugsley looked to be the scoring pass but Pugsley's hamstrings failed him as he was hauled down mere feet from the line. Quick recycling gave John Parkin the simplest of tasks to score his second. Mike Richards finished the scoring with a pick from the scrum base and slid just far enough to ground the ball on the line for a 36-0 halftime lead.

The worsening conditions in the second half made scoring points hard work, and the cold tired bodies of both sides lacked the urgency of the first half. Freddie Fraser's tireless legs found the energy to hack on a Jack Pugsley chip on 55 minutes though, the centre diving on the ball to score his sixth try of the season. Three minutes later Veor got their reward for making the trip, scoring a try of their own to possibly the biggest cheer of the day. Cornish character could not stop Sam Conway getting his second on 60 minutes though, and another Channing touchline conversion triggered the final whistle as the referee deemed the pitch unworthy of playing on. Withycombe travel to Exeter Saracens next week looking to continue their unbeaten post-Christmas run.

Withycombe v Falmouth

Withycombe crusaded to a hard-fought win in the mud at Raleigh Park on Saturday.

 

After a week of weather that would give Noah cause for concern, Withycombe's ground staff deserve high praise for getting the pitch ship shape in time for kickoff.

 

Falmouth are usually a tough proposition, and Withycombe had to summon the Corinthian spirit from the get-go. Luke Mingo's fantastic lineout take set the stage for a Withycombe rolling maul, which was manna from Heaven for Mike Richards who opened the scoring with his tenth try of the season. Both sides admirably tried to play good rugby in the wet, and Falmouth pounded at the Withycombe defence which held firm under considerable strain, and resisted the temptation of indulging in argy-bargy. The home side would be next to score when a set play from a scrum in the opposition 22 put Sam Conway away in the corner. Withycombe went in to the break 10-0 up with both sides lacking something of a finishing touch in attack.

In the second half Withycombe struggled to play rugby in the right areas of the field, with handling errors and some poor kicks allowing Falmouth to heap pressure on. This only served to showcase Withycombe's tireless and workmanlike defence though, and it eventually coughed up a try. John Parkin made two tackles on big forwards in succession, with a stray offload from the second one picked up by Adam Morris and gleefully returned 50 metres for a try in the corner.

Falmouth hit back with a converted try, but in the final quarter Withycombe controlled the game much better, pinning Falmouth into their own half and pressing hard for a bonus point try at the end.

 

The front five had dominated all day and essentially set the platform from which Withycombe won the game. Owing to some clever ploys from the visiting pack, Withycombe's series of five metre scrums didn't yield a bonus point try, but Withycombe's Holy Trinity of fours was safe: their fourth win in four games elevated them to fourth in the league, with their eyes firmly on chasing down Crediton in third. Andrei Toma was awarded the man of the match accolade for his seemingly neverending tackle count, turning up everywhere Falmouth's talismanic number eight Sam Bailey did and refusing Falmouth front-foot ball. Basement boys Veor visit next weekend for a game which promises to be all fire and brimstone.

Honiton v Withycombe

Channing’s Triumphant Return!

Honiton 12

Withycombe 15

Withycombe clawed back a 12-point deficit to win in difficult conditions at Honiton.

Honiton, who are now perilously close to the drop zone, had the better of the early exchanges and a break from full back Ollie Rice and an impressive touchline conversion put them 7-0 up after 8 minutes.

Withycombe replied by rumbling down to the Honiton 22 only to come away empty handed after a maul was pulled down close to the Honiton line. Another Honiton break led to Callum Hill crashing over from short range to extend their lead to 12-0, though that would be the last points they would score.

Withycombe started to brighten in the later part of the first stanza having seemingly run off their “bus legs”, but were stymied time and again by the workmanlike home defence. Honiton’s willingness to push the boundaries on the gain line and at the breakdown proved a constant thorn in Withycombe’s side, until the visitors got on the scoresheet with the last play of the half. Number 8 Mike Richards flopped on the ball after the pack pushed Honiton back over their own line, with Glenn Channing putting the conversion right between the posts only for the stiff wind to stop the ball mid-flight and blow it back towards the kicker!

In the second half Withycombe played up the slope and started to take control of the game.  With Glenn Channing’s boot able to make the most of the wind at his back, Honiton saw little of the Withycombe 22, and tempers started to flare as Withycombe got back into the game.

As the forwards again drove over the line, this time from a lineout drive, debutant Luke Mingo grounded the ball to cap an impressive performance, whilst Jon Axon was 15 yards back being accosted by Honiton hooker Callum Hill. After the try was awarded, the pair were sin binned and Honiton were given a penalty on the halfway line for Axon’s act of self-defence. Channing, meanwhile, slotted the conversion to draw level with 24 minutes remaining.

Withycombe continued pressurising the Honiton line and elected to kick to the corner rather than take a kickable penalty, before taking the points with the next one. Channing put the visitors ahead from right under the posts with 15 minutes still to go. This seemed to spur Honiton, and they made a few forays into the Withycombe 22 but ultimately came up empty handed and frustration set in as another home player was sent to the bin on the final whistle for fisticuffs.

Withycombe will be happy to come away from All Hallows with a win as it is never an easy place to go and play rugby, and the conditions made free-flowing running rugby something of a pipe dream. Still, it has now been three wins from three since Christmas and with Falmouth visiting next week, Withy will be looking to extend that run.

Withycombe v Hayle

Workmanlike Withy Win in the Wet

Withycombe 19
Hayle 12

Will Cole's try in the corner capped a win in atrocious conditions at Raleigh Park.

Withycombe avenged their embarrassment and Mark Tomlinson's red card farce earlier in the season by outscoring Hayle three tries to nil at a waterlogged Raleigh Park.

Early set piece dominance, particularly in the scrum, gave Withycombe the initial impetus and it wasn't long before a penalty kick to the corner gave them the opening score. Dave Richards steered the maul over the line and dotted down on twelve minutes, Glenn Channing kicking the conversion.

The conditions appeared to bring out the best in evergreen Jon Axon, whose size, lineout presence and velvet hands seemed perfectly suited to the quagmire. Axon's marauding forays into the heart of the Hayle defence put the Green and Blacks on the front foot time and again. 

The forwards would again take centre stage as a scrum on the Hayle five metre line appeared to give them the perfect opportunity to drive over. After letting the ball slither out from under his feet, No.8 Mike Richards scored with his second bite at the cherry from the ensuing ruck. Channing's conversion put Withycombe 14 points up with 18 minutes gone, and Withycombe could smell blood.

Unfortunately, Withy took their foot off the gas and Hayle snuck back into the game. 3 penalties in 8 minutes just before halftime put them back in contention at 14-9, though they rarely threatened the Withycombe tryline.

With the conditions worsening, tries would come at a premium in the second half. Hayle notched another penalty on 65 minutes to bring themselves within two points, which was a bit too "nip and tuck" for Withycombe tastes.

With that, the home side marched back up the pitch and earned themselves a penalty. As they had done all day, Withy elected to back themselves and kick to the corner. It paid off as second row Will Cole dived over in the top corner to put Withycombe 7 points clear. Wary of a Hayle comeback, Withycombe pressed hard again, and will feel they should have scored the bonus point try before the final whistle sounded, not that there will have been many scored this weekend!

Sam Conway earned himself the Man of the Match accolade for a near-faultless performance on the wing despite long periods of no ball and being peppered with high balls all day.

Next week the Withy boys look for their third win on the trot as Glenn Channing returns to his old stomping ground at Honiton. The 2nd XV visit Exmouth for the annual grudge match, looking to avenge their 24-10 home defeat earlier this year.