Ivybridge pull away from the bottom two

IVYBRIDGE put some distance between themselves and the bottom two in South West One with a 46-19 comeback win over Chew Valley.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

The signs were hardly encouraging in the first half as the Bridge trailed from the 10th minute onwards and were 19-3 down at the break.

It seemed the game was going to the formbook as promotion-chasing Chew were in sight of a bonus point and heading for another win.

The Bridge turned the game round in the period immediately after half time, during which they edged into a 22-19 lead with an hour on the watch.

And in the last 20 minutes the Bridge ran in three more tries to complete their widest league win of the season so far. Two of the tries were scored while Chew were a man down with Tom Waddington in the sin bin.

Ivybridge are now eight points clear of second-bottom Okehampton, who slipped-up 24-12 at home to doomed Weston.

Staying out of the bottom two is Ivybridge's first priority, although in a division that could have three relegation places depending on who comes down from National Two West they might have work to do to be on the safe side.