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.