Grieveson on top of his game in win for Ivybridge

KICKER'S 19 POINTS SEALS ONLY A SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

IVYBRIDGE 29 WESTON 27

IVYBRIDGE won for only the second time this season in South West One when they defeated fellow strugglers Weston 29-27 thanks largely to kicking of Matt Grieveson.

Grieveson landed two conversions and five penalties – the last of which put Ivybridge back in front with time almost up.

The Bridge were never behind in the first half thanks to Grieveson’s boot and tries from Jack Skinner and Owen Garner, but it got edgy after the break as Weston came from behind to lead 27-23 with five minutes to go.

Victory was not enough to hoist Ivybridge out of the bottom two, but they have gone level on 14 points with third-from-bottom Matson, whose game against former leaders Chew Valley was a weather casualty.

And Weston remain stuck fast in the basement with six points to find just to catch Ivybridge.

Ivybridge got away to a positive start against Weston by shooting into a 13-0 lead with Garner’s drive over try plus the conversion and a penalty from Grieveson.

By half time the home side’s lead was just three points as Weston were breathing down their necks at 20-17 behind.

Adam Northcott wriggled over from a penalty move for Ivybridge and Grieveson added five more points from the tee.

Grieveson briefly gave Ivybridge some breathing space with a penalty early in the second half, but back came Weston with a converted score that gave them a slender 24-23 lead.

It stayed a one-point game until 10 minutes from time when Weston edged 27-23 ahead courtesy of a penalty shot.

Now the pressure was on Ivybridge, who were dismayed when a Sam Brown try was rubbed off.

Five minutes from time it was a one-point game again after Grieveson knocked over penalty number four.