Jess now targets another win before Christmas break

SOUTH WEST PREMIER

NEWTON Abbot head into the Devon derby clash against visiting Barnstaple on the up at last after winning 38-3 away to Old Patesians.

The All Whites had gone nine games in the South West Premier Division without a win since beating Bracknell back on day one and were one off the bottom of the table. The only team below Newton Abbot was Old Patesians and in a division with three relegation spots that is not a good place to be approaching the halfway stage.

Victory moved Newton Ab- bot up to third from bottom and ahead of Drybrook, who lost at Camborne.

There is still a long way to go to reach safety – making up the four-point gap on Cleve is the first priority – but Newton Abbot player-coach Matt Jess feels the team is moving in the right direction.

“The players understand the situation we are in and that was reflected in their reaction immediately after the game,” said Jess. “There was no whooping and yelling out on the pitch, in fact we were a bit flat and quite sombre for a while. We have started to turn the corner and I think everyone realises how much more we have to do.

“What we need now is at least one or two more wins before Christmas, which would give us a big boost for the games ahead in the New Year.”

As Newton Abbot’s pre-Christmas schedule is Barnstaple (second), Bournemouth (top) and Brixham (sixth) it’s perhaps not surprising the mood was a little sombre before the first celebratory beer had been supped.

Jess said Newton Abbot did a lot of things right against Old Patesians, such as taking the points on offer from the tee when they could and defending well under pressure.

Tom Putt’s haul of 18 points from the boot kept the board ticking over virtually from the get-go.Jess acknowledges what was good enough to beat a side without a win all season won’t necessarily be enough against Barnstaple.

But it is definitely not a lost cause either.

“A Devon derby at our place is definitely a game we can win, but we will have to fight hard,” said Jess.

“We will need to add another 20 per cent to our intensity and game management.

“Harry Ottaway, newly signed from Exmouth, im- pressed on debut at full-back and Jack Bond had what Jess described as his ‘best game of the season’ out on the wing. A contender for Man of the Match honour was lock Martin Harrison-Browne, now back at Newton Abbot after a spell as player-coach at Okehampton, who scored two tries.

“Martin has got his hunger for the game back – and it showed,” said Jess.

The return of Jarryd Harris at No 8 added another dimension to Newton Abbot’s forward play.

He scored the bonus point try in the second half. Kevin Dennis was Newton Abbot’s other try scorer.