Barnstaple will have to settle for second place
BARNSTAPLE are on course for a second-place finish in One South West following a 31-17 home win over St Austell.
With one game to go, and five points to play for, Barum cannot catch leaders Devonport Services, who are six points ahead after winning 24-20 at Lydney to clinch promotion.
Chew Valley, the long-time former leaders, are four points behind in third place after handing out a 41-0 hiding to Matson.
As long as Barum defeat bottom side Weston in their final game of the season on April 6, they won’t be caught for second place.
There is no consolation prize of a promotion play-off for the runnersup, which means second or third in the final table is largely irrelevant.
Winston James, the Barnstaple coach, had hoped to bounce back to
National Two West at the first attempt following relegation last season. It may not have been mission accomplished, but second or third will be fine by him.
“We beat Services at home, they won when we played down there and in a tight division they have won more games than us and scored more points,” said James.
“Services deserve their promotion and good luck to them next season as we know how tough it is in National League Two.
“Of course, we wanted to go up. But second place would be a great season for us. We have got a young side that is only getting better all the time. We will have another go next season.”
Fourteen-man Barnstaple still had enough ammunition to defeat St Austell despite playing most of the second half a man short after prop George Snell collected a second yellow card.
Snell went off for 10 minutes in the first half and earned a second yellow for a suspect tackle in the second.
“The red card looked a bit harsh,” said James. “George caught their player on the chest, but no one on their side took any notice.”
Twice St Austell took the lead – 7-5 and 17-12 – and both times Barnstaple pegged them back.
Tries from Ryan Smale, Brandon Moore, who is now on 22 for the season, Martinas Dromantas (two) and Will Topps were enough to swing it Barum’s way. Jake Murphy and Tyler Gordon-Oke took care of the goal kicking.
Max Bullen and Matt Boothby were the St Austell try scorers. Matt Shepherd converted both tries and a penalty.
James said St Austell were a hard side to defeat and there was nothing flashy about Barnstaple’s performance. “We stuck to our patterns, played with good shape and did the basic stuff well enough to get the result,” said James.
James had a word or two of special praise for prop Dromantas after he collected his third try in the last two games. “Martinas has found some form and has started showing people who don’t know him what a fine player he is,” said James.
Barnstaple Athletic ended lingering speculation about the destination of the Devon One title by thrashing Old Plymothians 66-0.
Technically, Barum could have been overhauled in the final furlong by chasers Torquay Athletic had they slipped-up against the Old Boys.
Torquay, doomed to the runnersup spot for the second successive season, pounded Exmouth Quins 59-7. But it wasn’t enough.
Barnstaple were 40-0 up at halftime after scoring six first-half tries courtesy of Oliver James (two), Connor Swan, Ryan Lee, Ben Beattie and Ben Jago.
After the interval, Ryan Jago, Alex Penny, Tom Swales and Swan added further tries.