Rugby Weston up to second after tight tussle with Ivybridge
WESTON are up to second in South West Premier, behind runaway leaders Barnstaple, following their 26-17 win over Ivybridge at The Recreation Ground.
Weston, who started the day in third, took the lead in the fourth minute when wing Kyran Devitt scored after Ollie Streeter had stolen an Ivybridge line-out. Fly-half Dan Lomax added the extras.
Ivy responded through their dangerous backs and were only held out by some superb defending from Dan Howman and Josh Cox.
Weston weathered the storm and increased their lead on the halfhour mark. A great 70-metre kick by scrum-half Ross Bennett put the visitors ten metres away from their own tryline and lock Tom Sugg disrupted the ensuing line-out, allowing prolific No 8 Brad Talbot to charge over. Lomax was again on target with the conversion.
Just before half-time, Weston took their lead to 19 points when hooker Adam Fisher-Sugg went over for an unconverted score. Ivy got on the scoresheet early in the second half when centre Charlie Bryant crossed for a five-pointer.
Weston bagged the bonus point late on after Streeter barged over for their fourth try.
In South West One West, Keynsham eased to a 27-0 victory on the road at Bridgwater & Albion. Matt Dew’s men dominated throughout despite tricky conditions. Jack Weston and Josh Woodman dotted down for tries, while Sam Challenger added two penalties and two conversions. Keynsham were also awarded a penalty try.
Cleve took two precious points after drawing 20-20 with promotion hopefuls Devonport Services at The Hayfields. Paul Vinicombe, Tom Hughes and Quinn Cross touched down, while Kyp Bridgen added a penalty and conversion for the Mangotsfield-based side.
Hornets moved to top spot after their 53-13 victory over Chew Valley, who dropped from top to third in the table.
The sides were locked at 6-6 with Chew’s Tom Bryan and Hornets’ Charlie Carter having swapped penalties. The visitors got the first try of the game after a searing break from Andrew Wheller was finished off by Ozzy James. Carter converted to make it 13-6 to the visitors. Billy Kirk added a second try soon after and Carter’s conversion took Hornets 20-6 ahead.
Chew got back in it with a penalty try to make it 20-13, but that’s as good as it got for the home side, with further Hornets tries coming courtesy of Adam Francis, Wheller, Lane and Danny Bailey.
Thornbury did their points difference the power of good with the 78-0 thrashing of Crediton at Rockhampton Road.
Alfie Richardson led the way with a hat-trick of tries, while Jay Burley, Harry Glew and Jack Pinker bagged braces. Sam Evans, Rich Bennett and Charlie Squire also crossed the whitewash, while Pinker added nine conversions for Thorns.
In Western Counties North, Avonmouth’s Andy Taylor helped himself to a 30-point haul, coming from two tries and ten conversions, during his side’s 90-0 mauling of bottom-of-the-table Coney Hill at Barracks Lane.
Josh Krupa and Billy Reynolds scored hat-tricks and there were singles from Tom Honour, Billy Simms, Joe Burgess, Steve Sullivan and Ollie Scrivin. Mouth also took this opportunity to hand debuts to Graham Stock and Flynn Dolan, who both came through with flying colours.
Struggling Clevedon pulled off a shock 18-12 win to do the league double over Barton Hill at Duncombe Lane. In a game more noticeable for frequent flashpoints between the sides rather than sparkling rugby, the Seasiders held a 15-5 lead at the turn. Barts improved in the second half to bring the scores back to 15-12. But a late Ethan Thomas penalty secured victory for Clevedon.
Josh Mortimore and Harvey Russell touched down for the visitors, with Thomas kicking the rest. For Barts, Adrian Hopkins and Joe Dorrington went over and veteran Ollie Nowell added a conversion for the Speedwell-based outfit.
Battling Bristol Saracens led 12-10 at the break against Chipping Sodbury, but yellow cards to George Harding and Billy Jeanes, in a case of mistaken identity, proved costly and they finally went down 18-12.
Sarries also lost skipper Will Harding with a hamstring injury to compound their woes. Jeanes and Matt Robson went over for the home side, while Jon Fox kicked a conversion. Loosehead prop Joe Buller was outstanding in defeat for Sarries.
Elsewhere in the division, leaders Stroud had a 47-17 win over Gordano, Winscombe lost 34-20 at home to Cheltenham and Old Bristolians came through a highscoring game against Midsomer Norton at Failand to triumph 43-31.