Devonport Services hope to improve against 9th placed Ivybridge
DEVONPORT SERVICES v HONITON
As Devonport Services take to the field today against local rivals Ivybridge they will hope that the performance that saw them win last week against will improve against a team that are 4 places below them in the Western Counties West league.
Last week Devonport Service overcame Honiton at home by 32-3. A win is a win! However, Skipper ‘Rocky' was less than complimentary about the performance which many of the players agreed with! The main comment was "If you play that badly, know it, and win by 32 - 3, it can't be all bad".
5 tries and a bonus point says a great deal about the 2nd half as after 40 mins Services were only 8 - 3 up. Matt Anstis scored a penalty inside 4 mins, but Honiton hit back to level the score.
As Services last passes went astray, it was winger Matt Morrison who gave them a 5 point lead at the half.
This was going to be a frustrating day for Services who looked like a side scrapping to avoid relegation at the bottom of the table, the handling was less than sharp and they generally sunk down to Honiton's level who lie second from bottom.
Sadly Dylan Cossey fell badly at a line out and had to go off to hospital in an ambulance and in great pain with something nasty done to his ankle. Everyone wishes him all the best.
The 2nd half was a little better with 4 more tries, Charlie Attis, who two years ago played for South West under 16s, scored 3 of them in his final game for the club this season as he is off travelling for 6 months.
The first came from a good drive from the forwards who released the ball to Nat Wonnacott who gave Ben McGowan some space down the wing, as the cover defence stopped his advance. He slipped it to Charlie to score. 13 - 3.
After 60 mins Ben again made a good break, rolling through a number of tackles to pass the ball to Manoa Tikoisauva who went over close to the posts to give Matt an easy conversion. 20 - 3.
A fly-hack gave John Mellor the ball on half way, with the crowd urging him on he started, made some good ground, looked uncertain of having the legs to make it to the line, looked for support, got none, carried on, looked for support again and thankfully found Charlie Attis, who scored his 2nd on 70 mins. 25 - 3.
Charlie's 3rd try followed a chip over the advancing defence which he reclaimed and outpaced the defence to score by the posts, Matt had an easy conversion to end the game at 32 - 3.
DEVONPORT SERVCES 2ND v EXMOUTH
The 2nd's travelled to Exmouth for a Devon 1 Merit table game with only 14 players to take on one of the best second teams in Devon and Cornwall. As coach driver Craig was coerced to make up the numbers it was going to be a difficult day!! 45-19 after 60 mins.
Exmouth rung the changes and a tiring Devonport Service shipped 7 more tries to give Exmouth 95 - 19 victory.
Prop Niall Stokes, flanker Joe McKinley and winger John Mason scored the tries with Mark Symes converting two of the tries.