Rock bottom as Paignton lose at Winscombe

RUGBY UNION

PAIGNTON have hit rock bottom in the Western Counties West table after losing 19-14 at Winscombe.

Bideford were below the Cherries going into the latest round of fixtures, but their win over Truro lifted them off the bottom.

Paignton had it all to do after going 14-9 down and for most of the second half trailed 19-7. Mike Fletcher scored the try and Mike Sandercock converted it. Two minutes from time Jamie Michelmore dashed up the hill to cross for the Cherries and Sandercock converted. That was a losing bonus point earned. Time ran out before Paignton could do anything else about the deficit, which coach Ben Passenger felt they were more than capable of.

“Five minutes more and we could have won the game,” insisted the Paignton coach.

“Having said that we would not have been in that had we taken our chances in the first half.”

Close attention for Brixham and Exeter University in the South West Premier division on Saturday

Paignton are on the road again this Saturday when they travel to Saltash.

Kingsbridge had no game last Saturday afternoon as their game against Saltash was a casualty of the weather.

Town face a really tough game this Saturday as they are away to unbeaten leaders Sidmouth.

Skipper Jake Bury helped himself to four tries as Torquay Athletic

43-7.

The Tics were caught on the hop by Topsham, who scored a first-minute try and kicked the conversion to lead 7-0.

By half time the Tics led 24-7 and had the four-try bonus point in the bag.

Topsham kept a lid on the Tics for most of the second half; but in the last 10 minutes the home side added two more tries.

Torquay’s forward domination yielded six of the seven tries scored and with more sympathetic passing in the conditions the 50-point tally might have been reached.

Josh Macklin (2) and James Wood were Torquay’s other try scorers. Wood kicked four conversions.

Torquay remain in fifth spot in the Cornwall & Devon table following this win, with the deficit on the second promotion spot cut to eight points after previously unbeaten leaders Plymstock Albion Oaks were soundly beaten at Honiton.

Bude took over at the top with Penryn remaining in third after opponents Withycombe cried off.

Torquay will hope the same thing does not happen to them ahead of Withycombe’s visit to the Recreation Ground this Saturday. Tickets go on sale before this Saturday’s match for the past players’ Christmas meal on Friday, December 14. Colin Whitford will be selling tickets for £20 each. Contact him on 07795 294309 to reserve one.

crushed

Topsham

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