Bournemouth extend lead after big win

BOURNEMOUTH started 2019 exactly as they finished the previous year as they inched ever closer to the South West Premier title.

This weekend the result was never in doubt as they pushed Weston-superMare aside on their way to a convincing 62-12 victory.

Freddie Gleadowe started a man of the match performance in style by chalking up the opening points with a try in the first minutes.

However, as Weston came back into the match it took until the 36th minute for Dan Stewart to add a second try as they led 12-7 at the break.

The leaders ran riot in the second half with Grant Hancox and Sam Hardcastle both running in doubles while Tom Napier, Gleadowe and Joe Tarrant also crossed the whitewash.

Their gap at the top is now 11 points after Ivybridge suffered a shock 17-10 defeat at Drybrook despite tries from Billy Pinkus and Damon Ackerman. That defeat allowed

Barnstaple to move into second but level on points with Ivybridge after they ran out 32-17 victors over

Bracknell and picked up a bonus point.

Ryan Carter, Kevin Angel, Adam Lloyd and Martinas Dromantas all crossed the whitewash for Barnstaple on their way to

second place. In reply Callum Lee and Simon Bayliss went over for two converted tries for Bracknell.

Brixham were the day’s biggest scorers as they ran 11 tries past Old Patesians during an entertaining 7029 encounter.

Harrison Cully was a hat-trick hero while Pierce Bryers and JP Simonetti grabbed two tries each.

Camborne added more worry on relegation threatened Newton Abbot as they ran away 26-20 victors.

Alex Ducker got two tries for the hosts while further scores came courtesy of Josh Semmens and Declan Matthews.

Maidenhead came through a close contest against Cleve as they sealed a 30-20 victory.

The teams were even at 7-7 at half-time before the visitors took control in the second half.

In the day’s other tie, a late fightback saw

Exmouth overcome a deficit to take a 24-24 draw against Exeter University.