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).