Paignton keep the pressure on leaders Tiverton

» » PAIGNTON maintained the pressure on leaders Tiverton in the Western Counties promotion chase with a thumping 43-24 win over Pirates Amateurs on Queen’s Park.

Tiverton’s 24-7 win away to relegation worriers Bideford kept them (82 points) five points clear of the second-placed Cherries (77) at the top of the table going into the business end of the season.

It could not be much tighter in the scramble for the automatic promotion place out of the division as Tiverton have one more match to play – Penryn at home – and Paignton have two due to a game in hand. Paignton need to turn that game in hand, which is away to lowly Bude this Saturday, into five points to move level with Tiverton going into the last round.

Tiverton are at home to Penryn on the final day and need a bonuspoint win to ensure Paignton do not overtake them. Without the bonus point, they could drop down to second should the Cherries take all five off Plymstock Oaks.

Paignton cannot win more games than Tiverton, which means points difference would settle a dead heat – and Tiverton have a substantial advantage (plus 162) in that department.

Paignton ran in seven tries against Pirates on the way to a clear-cut win. The Cherries scored three tries in a wind-assisted first 15 minutes Scrum-half Dewald Stoop started the ball rolling, followed by No.8 Jack Carlisle and winger Jordan Hodge. Fly-half Brad McKee converted two.

Although the Pirates hit back with a try in the corner, Paignton winger Henry Hoare replied in similar fashion to leave his side 24-5 up at the break.

Although Paignton played into the wind in the second half, replacement flanker Tom Osborn soon crashed over and McKee converted. Pirates applied some pressure which produced two quick tries, one of which was converted.

Some sparkling handling from Paignton produced further tries for McKee and a second for Carlisle, one of which McKee converted.

The Pirates scored their fourth try near the end, too late to affect the result.

Torquay Athletic wingman Ryan Hanauer took his try tally for the season to 33 with four more in the 59-7 drubbing handed out to Exmouth Quins.

The Tics are on course for another second-place finish in Devon One. With one game to go and five points to play for they trail long-time leaders Barnstaple Athletic by six points. Having finished second behind promoted Tavistock last season, Torquay supporters must be wondering what their team has to do to get out of this division. Conrad Sutcliffe