Withycombe v OPM

Withycombe 66
OPM 20

Withycombe prepared for next weekend's crunch clash with Crediton by thumping OPMs after a stunning 49-point second half.

The match started prmisingly enough for the Green & Black; OPM not even getting a touch of the ball until after Fridge Gibbons had walked over the tryline at the back of a rolling maul on six minutes. Withycombe's eagerness to play cost them as the visitors kicked a penalty after three minutes of scrappy play in the Withycombe half, but the hosts got back on track on twenty minutes when Joe Parkin took advantage of some indecision in the OPM backfield, catching Jack Pugsley's high ball and running in untouched from 20 metres. Once again Withycombe would concede immediately, this time a wind-assisted penalty kick from the 10m line.

Just two minutes later the visitors missed another penalty from a bit further out, and after ten minutes of ordinary play, some lax defending in the Withycombe midfield allowed the Plymothians under the posts to nudge themselves ahead 13-12. The celebrations wouldn't last long as Glenn Channing's show-and-go from quick lineout ball put Joe Parkin in for his second on half time. The second half would be a completely diffferent affair, although it took ten minutes for the floodgates to open. 

Simon Tozer's introduction from the bench provided plenty of impetus, and it was his big "don't argue" fend that set the counter attack in motion that saw fellow benchwarmer Will Hockin score his first ever try for Withycombe, a neat sidestep flummoxing the defending full back on his way under the posts. Hockin would be involved again a few minutes later as a first phase backs move put Kev Rodwell in the corner, with Glenn Channing nailing the touchline conversion to keep up his perfect second half. Channing followed that with yet another show and go under the posts, before debutant Tom Counsell finally got just reward for his sterling running lines; Joe Parkin set the break in motion, offloading to the tireless Tozer who put Counsell away. Three minutes later Joe Parkin once again turned provider, brother John finishing off another long range try following a tap penalty. Parkin Jr's man-of-the-match performance was capped shortly afterwardswith a deft grubber kick as he was bundled out of bounds that left Will Hockin with the easiest of finishes for his brace. Terry Mears wrapped up the Withycombe scoring with a solo kick return from his own half, before OPM had the last word with a consolation try.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Terry Mears (1T), Joe Parkin (2T, MoM), Tom Counsell (1T), Kevin Rodwell (1T), Glenn Channing (1T, 8C), John Parkin (1T), Chris Gibbons (1T), Dave Richards, Liam Cullen, Jon Axon, Tim Wills, Andrei Toma, Eugene Badenhorst, Connor Gilby. Reps: Sam Manning, Simon Tozer, Will Hockin (2T)