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.

Saltash v Withycombe

Withycombe Rise From The Ashes

Saltash 19

Withycombe 24

Withycombe got their season back on track with a smart display of rugby in their last visit to Cornwall this season.

Saltash stole an early lead after Withycombe blew an overlap and threw an interception that was returned for a try at the other end. A Glenn Channing penalty was their only reward for their early spells of pressure. Saltash then set up camp in the visitors' 22, only to be denied time and again by the Withycombe defence, and by a forward pass which would otherwise have allowed them to score in the corner.

Withycombe's scrum dominated the tight exchanges, and this was never more evident than when a second successive maul was pulled down in the Saltash 22, the referee awarding a penalty try as reward for Withycombe's workmanlike efforts. Channing slotted the conversion to make the halftime lead 10-7.

The second half was nip & tuck, though Withycombe will feel they created the better of the chances. The slippery conditions and the fact that this was both sides' first game in four weeks perhaps contributing to a game which was played with lots of attacking intent, but lacking the finishing edge. Appropriately, Ashes captain Max Venables kept the ball in hand to score the try that would put the hosts back in front, ghosting through the Withy defence and outpacing the cover from a scrum.

Withycombe hit back through the returning Adam Morris, who intercepted a dangerous-looking pass from Venables to redress the balance of tries scored from interceptions. Though Morris couldn't find his way to the posts, Channing kicked the tricky wide out conversion to make it 17-12.

Aaron Conway almost scored the try of the day; he returned a clearing kick, chipped ahead himself and got over the line, only to drop the ball before being able to ground it. Withycombe scored soon after as a turnover from Ashes' desire to attack from deep led to Dan James making the decisive pick and go. Channing's conversion put Withycombe firmly in the driving seat.

Saltash put themselves back in the game after repeated pressure in the Withycombe 22 ended with Liam Cullen in the sin bin and a try under the posts. They wouldn't threaten the Withycombe line again though, and Withycombe in fact spurned a try bonus point with the last play of the game. A win in Cornwall with the first game after Christmas is not to be sniffed at, though. Withycombe welcome Hayle to Raleigh Park next week looking to build on this performance.