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.