Athletic cup win was ‘great advert for second team rugby’ says coach

BARNSTAPLE Athletic completed a hat-trick of wins in the Devon Second XV Cup final by defeating Topsham 36-24 in this season’s showpiece.

- by CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

The Tics were shocked by an early Topsham score from prop and captain Steve Ashford that Will Humphreys converted to put the home side 7-0 up after three minutes.

The first half turned into a tit-for-tat affair that ended with Barnstaple creeping 19-14 ahead just before the break.

Barum took control of the game in the second half to steam into a 36-17 lead with 10 minutes to run. That was game over and both sides knew it, although Topsham had one more try left in them.

Luke Berry, the Barnstaple coach, said it may look comfortable on paper, but out on the field Topsham made their opponents from the next division up work hard.