Services move closer to safety

DEVONPORT Services took a significant step towards moving out of the National Two West drop spots by beating Loughborough Students 17-0.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

Although Services remain bottom of the table, beating Loughborough was a 'bonus' win in the grand scheme of things.

Services need to defeat teams immediately ahead of them to clamber out of danger as points they gain stop their fellow strugglers leaving them behind. Points taken off midtable teams - Loughborough were seventh - help gain ground in on all the sides above them.

This win, their second in the last three starts, moved Services within three points of Macclesfield, whom they have to get past first on the way out of danger.

Kieran Leach, Services' team manager, said there was one big difference between the sides: scrumtime.

"We dominated the scrums, especially in the first half when both our tries came from them," said Leach.

"Obviously, we were delighted with a win, even if it was a bit disappointing not to get a bonus point.