Ton up for Oaks as they extend lead at top

DEVONPORT Services ground-out a 23-12 win over promotion rivals Barnstaple to consolidate their position at the top of South West One.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

Defeat could have allowed Barnstaple and Chew Valley to move past Services into the promotion-winning spot, but victory over Barnstaple kept Services (54pts) two points ahead of Chew, now up to second after a narrow win over Brixham, and four points clear of Barnstaple (50) in third.

Kiearn Leach, Services’ team manager, said the low score told the story of the game.

“It was hardly spectacular – certainly no top-of-the-table humdinger – but definitely a battle,” said Leach.

“Both sides attacked, but we attacked more than they did and that is why we won.”

Losing stand-off Tyler GordonOke seven minutes into the game after an accidental collision with a team-mate did Barnstaple no favours. Neither did yellow cards one after the other for Ben Hilton then Nat Bayet shortly after halftime.

Services took the lead when Richard Goldsby-West jabbed over a penalty and were eight points up in as many minutes after Mike Rickard poached a try from a Barnstaple line-out. Goldsby-West converted.

Barnstaple subbed-off both prop forwards before the 20-minute mark in an attempt to obtain more purchase at scrum time. A try from No.8 Brandon Moore soon followed and a Jake Murphy conversion cut the leeway to 10-7.

Goldsby-West added a penalty just before the break for a 13-7 lead.

Aiden Taylor wiggled over for his 10th league try of the season as Services went further ahead after the interval, Goldsby-West kicking the goal and adding a penalty for a 23-7 lead with 12 minutes to go.

Barnstaple had the final word with a try up the bus lane for Will Topps.

TAVISTOCK coach Joel Caddy said his side left themselves too much to do and too little time to do it in a 28-22 defeat at St Ives.