Ivybridge's survival prospects battered after home thrashing by relegation rivals

PLYMSTOCK Oaks slipped to a 29-14 defeat against Barnstaple Athletic, who were always in the driving seat after shooting into a 19-point lead.

- By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

The Tics scored three tries in the first 15 minutes - and converted two of them - which left a makeshift Oaks side playing catch-up for the rest of the match.

Oaks actually outscored Barnstaple for the remainder of the game, but making up for their early battering proved too much of an ask.

Mark Lenthall, Oaks' director of rugby, felt that, considering the challenge of just getting a side to Pottington Road, the team acquitted themselves well.

"We only had 16 players on Friday night and roped-in two 50-year-olds to sit on the bench, and someone who had only played twice before," said Lenthall.

"Considering we had seven first-team regulars out - and some colts playing-up - we did pretty well once we settled.

"Barnstaple were well drilled and caused problems when they moved the ball - and when we went 19-0 down so early you fear the worst.

"When Barnstaple tried to bully us up front we stopped them and they did not find it so easy then."

Lenthall said two of Oaks' up-and-coming talents showed up well at first-team level.

"Josh Waters had a fine debut at hooker - and Dion Todd was literally everywhere," said Lenthall.

"Dion started on one of the wings, then he moved to flanker and he finished up at scrum-half."

Corey Jamieson scored both Oaks's tries. Lewie Riley kicked the conversions.

Sam Carr, Chris Philpott, Liam Ducker and Harvey Rostock were Barnstaple's try scorers. Rostock kicked three conversions and a penalty.

IVYBRIDGE'S South West One survival prospects took a battering when they were thrashed 14-66 at home by relegation rivals Chew Valley.

There was only a point between the bottom two in the table going into the game, which was the Bridge's chance to start moving up the standings.

By half time any thoughts of climbing the table had gone out of the window as Chew had forged into a 0-33 lead.