Services in pole position in a new-look top four

DEVONPORT Services are set-up nicely for the South West One topof-the-table clash against Chew Valley after demolishing Bridgwater & Albion 45-13.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

Victory lifted Services (52pts) into pole position in a new-look top four where Thornbury (52), Chew Valley (51) and St Austell (51) are all right behind them.

Services raced into an early lead courtesy of a try from Richard Goldsby-West and by half time led 19-7.

Bridgwater kept Services at bay until the hour mark rolled past and were still in touch at 19-13 down.

The last 20 minutes was where the game was won and lost as Services piled-on the pressure and piled-up the points.

Mike Lewis, the Services’ coach, said the result and the margin was just what he hoped to see after the heavy defeat at Thornbury seven days earlier.

“A defeat like ours at Thornbury is just a blip if you turn it round straight away,” said Lewis.

“This was the sort of result we needed as it sets-us up for Chew Valley up there this Saturday.”

Lewis said Services scored most of their points in the first and last 20 minutes of the match when they were at their best.

“We started with two tries in the opening 15 minutes when we put phases together, linked-up well and went in under the posts both times,” said Lewis.

“It was much the same in the second half going into the last 20.”