Withies RFC Sunk in Second Half

Defeat at Raleigh Park after a tough second forty minutes with the final score being Withycombe 31, Devonport Services II 40.

Withy got the game underway with a kick downfield and were immediately put under pressure as an early penalty kick failed to make touch, giving Devonport the opportunity to run the ball back up the field - their progression benefited by a penalty to get themselves into the Withy 22’. However, the Withycombe defence passed their early test, winning a penalty of their own to clear their lines.

The first chance of points went Withycombe’s way as Lewis Tose took the opportunity from in front of the posts to put his team 3-0 up.

Shortly after, Withy were back inside the Devonport half and, with a penalty awarded on the 10m line, Max Rickards took no time in taking the quick tap to leave the defence standing. A stunning solo run from Rickards, followed by Tose’s conversion put Withy 10-0 up after 10 minutes.

Continuing to control the game, Withycombe ensured that most of the gameplay was confined to the visitor’s half. With the ball back inside their 22’, Devonport resorted to desperate tackling to stop the withy driving maul and with the flanker dragging the maul down over the line, the referee headed towards the posts to award Withy the penalty try and send the offending player to the sin bin.

Now 17-0 up, Withy were enjoying their rugby, but Devonport were also starting to gain in strength too as they managed to spend more time with the ball. With play now inside the Withy half, it was their turn to be on the wrong side of the referee as Joe Blyth was sent to the sin bin for an offence on the floor. The punishments were doubled too when a well-weighted chip kick was collected by the Devonport winger who swan-dived over the line to score. With the conversion missing the mark, the score was 17-5 when the half time whistle sounded.

With the second half seeing the visitors playing with both the slope and the wind, they immediately opted to kick the fall downfield at any opportunity. This gave them some decent territory and before long found themselves down on the Withy try line. A break from the scrum looked to have been scored, but some great defence from Withy ensured that the ball was held up off the grass and they could breathe – for now!

The clearing kick from the dropout didn’t make enough ground as Devonport came straight back and this time made no mistake of the grounding with a try next to the posts.

The visitors then took the lead after some midfield play suddenly went out to the wing once again, this time avoiding the Withy defence, allowing for a second quick try under the posts.

Withy came back fighting though, and once again battled up the pitch. With the ball firmly rooted deep within the Devonport 22’; Withy played through the phases, pressuring the defenders and, following multiple scrum penalties on their opponent’s try line, the referee finally went under the posts again for the second penalty try of the game. With the try came another yellow card for Devonport, this time the scrum half spending 10 minutes on the sidelines.

Withy had taken back the lead; however, this wouldn’t last long as Devonport made the most of the slope, wind and their more experienced players to score three tries in ten minutes to gain an uncatchable lead with just seven minutes remaining.

Withy weren’t going to come away empty handed however, as one final push from the boys lead to a great break from Joe Blyth who broke through the defence to score Withies’ fourth try – earning them the 4-try bonus point. The least they deserved from their efforts!

The final score, Withycombe 31, Devonport Services II 40.

The Withy boys now have a week off to rest, regroup and prepare for their first Exmouth Derby in a fortnight’s time when we travel to the Imperial Recreation Ground to play Exmouth Quins.