Withies End 2024 in Style

A dominant display is rewarded with maximum points

A dominant display is rewarded with maximum points

After a lengthy break, Withy finally managed to get some game time with a trip on the road against Topsham IIs. 

A slightly rusty start and some early handling errors saw both sides exchange scrums early on; however, Withy soon got some oil on the gears and were heading towards the try line. With just three minutes on the clock, Joe Blyth found himself on the scoreboard in his first game back after twelve months in Australia, where he has been playing with Wollongbar. 

Some nice early play gave Withy the upper hand, but a brief period of ill discipline saw the visitors cough up two quick penalties and also lose George Doughty to the sin bin.

Being a man down didn’t discourage Withy and before long Matt Edworthy had doubled the boys’ points tally with sixteen minutes on the clock. 

With their first meaningful attack of the game, Topsham got themselves into a good position and were rewarded with a penalty shot at goal. With the ball sailing wide of the posts, the score remained at 0-14.

In fact, the next points of the game went Withy’s way and with some strong counter-rucking, Withy found themselves suddenly with ball in hand and making headway. Some beautiful handling found Jayden Gore on the wing who breezed past the home defence to score. The tricky wind denied Tom Cooke’s conversion attempt as it steered the ball away from the posts.

By this point, Withy were really beginning to control the game and had managed to get their bonus point try on the board just before the half time whistle as more slick handling saw Alex Peterson cross the whitewash for another seven points. 

A final flurry of action saw Topsham assert some pressure of their own, but with an effective defensive movement, Tops had been held up. Denying any score for the hosts before the break. The score at half time, 0-26 to Withy.

With the rain adding to the wind for the start of the second half, conditions would possibly make a difference to the game, but this wasn’t to be the case. Withy continued to control large elements of the game and were once again rewarded following a defensive error from Topsham. With a pass out from the scrum being dropped into open play, Alex Peterson saw the opportunity and pounced on the loose ball to claim a fifth try for Withycombe. Cooke’s conversion brought the score to 0-33.

After the try, Withy maintained their high level of intensity to keep the large number of travelling supporters entertained; and despite not scoring any points for fifteen minutes, the boys enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory to maintain pressure on their opponents.

They broke the deadlock on the hour mark after some rush defence saw Topsham touch down behind their own line. The resulting scrum was marched over the line and scored by Luke Pattison. Cooke’s fifth conversion of the match brought Withycombe to 40 points. 

The hosts managed to get themselves on the scoreboard for a consolatory score shortly afterwards as they made the most of a small gap in the Withy defence to score next to the posts. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the score had brought some life to the side who played out the last fifteen minutes with some pace to test Withycombe a little more. Withy stood up to the test well to deny any more points, playing out the match largely within the middle third of the field. 

The final score Topsham IIs 5, Withycombe 40.

A huge, statement performance from the lads to end the year on a high with a six-game unbeaten run and a well-deserved five league points to travel back down the A376 with.

We now break for Christmas and resume on the 4^th January where we welcome Devonport Services IIs to Raleigh Park in what will be a challenging start to 2025 for the side. 

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters who have come to cheer us on both home and away throughout the year. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous new year – We’ll see you on Boxing Day for our annual game where a Withycombe XV will take on a President’s XV at Raleigh Park. Kick Off will be at 11am and will, as ever, be a game you won’t want to miss!!