Paignton relegation concerns are heightened by Kingsbridge loss

RUGBY UNION ROUND-UP

PAIGNTON’S predicament at the wrong end of the Western Counties table was not improved by a 28-12 defeat by Kingsbridge.

Defeat leaves Paignton one off the bottom of the table in a division with two relegation places.

Saltash beating Falmouth 12-3 did Paignton no favours as the Ashes are now six points ahead of them in the battle for safety.

Kingsbridge led 21-0 by half time at Queens Park and there was no way back for the Cherries after that. Joel Taylor got a try back. But by the time Mike Sandercock converted his own try only seconds were left on the watch.

Paignton go to Winscombe this Saturday, another side trying to plot a path away from the relegation places.

Ben Passenger, Paignton’s player-coach, said the Cherries are entering a crucial period before Christmas that could have a huge bearing on their fortunes.

“We have got Winscombe and Saltash as well as Tiverton between now and Christmas,” said Passenger.

“Of the games we have played so far only Crediton and Wellington have looked a long way ahead of us, although we have yet to play (leaders) Sidmouth.”

Passenger said for Paignton to start moving up the there some tweaks needed.

“We have got to sort out game management out,” said Passenger.

“Games we should have won we have lost and games where we have lost we have not been taking the losing bonus points we should have had.

Former Bristol and Plymouth Albion lock Richard Hunt made a comeback appearance for Paignton against Kingsbridge and has been co-opted as forwards’ coach.

Kingsbridge, hovering round mid-table after their win at Paignton, are at home to Saltash this Saturday.

Town have only lost once at home all season and will be favourites against a team that has struggled on the road.

James Palmer (two), Buster James and George Banfield were the try scorers for Kings- bridge in their win over Paignton. Ben Newman kicked all four conversions.

Torquay Athletic came from 12-0 down just before half time to win 17-12 at Tavistock

Victory moves the Tics within nine points of the second promotion place as the season clatters towards the halfway stage.

Player-coach James Wood set Torquay a target of not losing again this side of Christmas after their set back against leaders Plymstock two rounds ago and the team have delivered.

For 40 minutes at Sandy Park on Saturday, it was open to question whether Torquay would register a win.

Tavistock were two tries up and good value for their lead against an out-of-sorts Torquay side.

“We were abysmal in the first half and played as if we were still on the bus,” said Wood.

“We were slipping off tackles, our kicking and passing was sloppy and we were giving away penalties too easily.

“By half time we had warmed up all round and showed great resilience in the second half to come back and win.”

Wood and Johnny Brown scored the tries that got Torquay back in the game. Mawgan Penrice kicked one conversion and Wood the other as well as a penalty.

Torquay gave a second-half debut from the bench for new scrum-half Danny McKenna, who has switched from Teignmouth.

Torquay are at home to Topsham this Saturday. A minute’s silence will be observed before the game in memory of former Tics’ full-back Chris Penford, who died recently.

Penford’s funeral is due to take place at All Saints Church, Babbacombe on Friday at 12.30pm.

Dartmouth overcame the odds to win 24-15 away to OPM.

Injury-hit Dartmouth, were only able travel with the bare15 players – and ended up with 13 on the pitch.

Number eight Stuart Massey went off before the break with a groin strain and wing Matt Hawkns went lame early in the second half.

The Riversiders were 17-5 up when Hawkins hobbled off, but were able to close the game out despite being under pressure.

Massey, Tom Clarke and John Dingle scored first half tries for Dartmouth.

Luke Chase kicked a conversion.

Clarke added a try after the BETTER late than never! New Cross have just been presented with the Devon Junior Plate trophy … seven months after they won the competition!

The Kingsteignton side defeated Devonport High School Old Boys 28-10 back in April to win the competition for the second time.

Medals were dished out by Devon official Maureen Jackson, but there was no cup to hand over.

Exeter Saracens, the 2017 winners, still had it break that Chase also converted.

Andrew Tomkinson, the Dartmouth team manager, said the hardy handful all deserved a massive pat on the back.

“This was probably our best performance of the season so far and a great team effort,” said Tomkinson.

“Every one of our players put in a massive shift and to get a bonus point when we played and no-one had asked them to give it back!

That oversight was corrected after last Saturday’s meeting between New Cross and Exeter Saracens at Five Lanes.

Sarries’ official Brian Sherrell packed the cup in his kit bag and presented it to New Cross captain Louie Griffiths during the post-match social in the nearby Royal British Legion Club.

The cup presentation gave the New Cross players a lift after another defeat that left them bottom of the Devon One table. for 30 minutes with only 13 men just showed how good our defence was.”

Buckfastleigh’s lost ground on the top three when they went down 22-12 at Old Technicians.,

Buckfastleigh had only previously been beaten by high-flying North Tawton and Exeter Saracens, but they found Techs a handful. The visitors went in front with a try by Harry Laity, but Techs hit back to go 7-5 ahead at the break.

Techs started the second period strongly and went 22-5 up.

Buckfastleigh turned up the pace in the final 20 minutes but could only score one try courtesy of Josh Gale, which Laity converted. Bucks are at home to Dartmouth this Saturday in a rearranged Devon Junior Cup quarter-final.

Things can only get better for Devon One stragglers New Cross after their 61-3 defeat by Exeter Saracens.

Eight defeats on the trot and not a bonus point in sight have left New Cross bottom of the table.

Saturday’s side to face Sarries was a testimony to the durability of the hard-core squad with players filling in out of position to get a side out.

Prop Tom Osborne stood in at inside centre and did not look out of place there. New Cross dominated the first half but wrong options came back to haunt them. Other than an Osborne penalty they put no points on the board.

There are no games in Devon One this Saturday.

Totnes claimed back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they defeated Tamar Saracens 7-5 at the Parkway Stadium. The visitors’ winning points came from a second-half penalty try after they had trailed 5-0 at the break in a game that saw five yellow cards.