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.