Barnstaple take a step closer to Twickenham in Papa Johns
BARNSTAPLE crushed Banbury 59-22 to take a step closer to Twickenham in the Papa Johns’-sponsored Community Championship competition.
That’s played two, won them both for Barum, who are top of their pool with one game left and favourites to reach the semi-finals.
Barum travel to Oxford Harlequins this Saturday, where either a win or a draw will put them into the knockout phase of the competition.
“Only us or Oxford can qualify from the group now and a draw would be enough for us, although I would rather win it,” said Winston James, the Barnstaple coach.
Banbury honoured the fixture despite the sort of selections issues that many teams have used to duck out of games in the Papa Johns’ competitions.
“Banbury told us they had 30 players missing for one reason or another – and it was obvious watching them warm-up they were not going to be very strong,” said James.
“We were able to rest a few players for the game coming up – and even then it was a bit of a mis-match.”
Barnstaple led 28-3 at the halftime break and shot further clear in the second half.
First-half tries were scored by Cameron Johnson, Jonny Carter, Sam Roberts and Ross Swales. Tyler Gordon-Oke converted all four.
Carter scored three more tries in the second half with one each going *to Mitch Turner and Will Topps.
Gordon-Oke popped over three more conversions.
If Barnstaple qualify from their group they will be at home in the last four to either Havant or Camberley.
Barnstaple Buccaneers have the chance to complete a club treble this Saturday when they face Devonport Services Wanderers at Pottington (3pm) in the final of the Dave Butt Memorial Cup.
It is already getting a little crowded in the trophy cabinet as Athletic second XV have lifted the Devon One title and the Devon Seconds XV Cup.
Barnstaple Athletic pulled away in the second half of last Saturday’s final at Pottington Road to beat Services Pilgrims 33-18 in the cup final.
The first half was close and Barum were only 19-13 up at the break. They shot clear in the second period to add the cup to the league title.
Barnstaple Buccs reached the Butt Cup final with victory over the University of Plymouth. Services worked their ticket the hard way last Saturday with a 34-27 win over Exeter Engineers. The Engineers were 15-7 up at half time, but could not closeout the game.
Saturday’s final remembers former Barnstaple player Dave Butt, who went on to coach South Molton, Barnstaple and Devon. He was Devon RFU chairman at the time of his sudden death in 2016.
South Molton bowed out of the Papa Johns’ Community Cup on the wrong end of a 63-26 scroreline away to Bristol side Old Elizabethans.
Molton were chasing the game by half time and did some catching up with tries from Julian Taylor, Ollie Squire (two) and Richard Morgan. Jake Cook kicked the conversions.
“Credit to them – they were a very strong team,” said Molton skipper Jack Routley. “But we did find ourselves in the second half.”
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