Tiverton promotion is in our hands, says Hill

TIVERTON will be going all-out for promotion from the Counties Western West when Penryn pay a visit to the Bolham Road ground this Saturday.

It really is neck and neck at the top of the table where Tiverton and Paignton are deadlocked on 82 points each – with only one game to play. Only the champion team goes up automatically.

Paignton moved level with Tiverton last Saturday by beating Bude 46-26 in a game in hand held over from the bad weather in February.

Tiverton were in possession of a five-point lead thanks to their 24-7 win at Bideford seven days earlier.

Tiverton have one more win and a far superior points difference (plus 428) to Paignton (plus 286), which would be their safety net in the event of a dead heat for top spot.

Tiverton need a bonus-point win over Penryn to clinch promotion. Any other result opens the door for Paignton to go past them if they take all five points off Plymstock Oaks.

Jon Hill, the Tiverton coach, said the good thing for his team is there is no iffs, buts or maybes about how to earn promotion.

“It’s in our hands and we know what to do,” said Hill. “We now have to deliver when there is a bit of pressure on us, just like we did against Bideford.

“We will work hard this week to ensure our preparation is bang on.”

Tiverton have not operated higher up the league ladder than Counties Western West since dropping out of South West Two at the end of the 1999-2000 season.

Under Hill’s supervision since he took over in May 2017, Tiverton have quietly crept up the table since 2021 from ninth to eighth, then fifth last season with promotion always his ultimate aim.

Tiverton eased-up the standings this season on the back of an eightgame winning run either side of Christmas. The run ended in a 48-17 reversal at Paignton.

Said Hill: “It has been a remarkable season and we have given ourselves a great opportunity.

“Our home form has been excellent, but we are well aware of just how good Penryn can be so need to be on top of our game.”

Hill won’t need reminding that Tiverton went to Penryn on the opening day of the season – and lost 25-19.