Saturday prematch a party atmosphere reigned at Stafford Park as Cully U15s had prevailed over a touring side from Marlowe that morning, the U13s some U16s and U18 girls were present for team photos and a Keynsham touring side, to contest a promotion playoff with Kingsbridge next week, unexpectedly dropped in and stayed on to early evening. Torquay and Cullompton were both secure in fifth and seventh positions respectively whatever the day’s result so this match was all about enjoyment of the game; the outcome was uncertain as Cully was hit with a double stag party weekend and the visitors said their side was depleted. Spectators were treated to fifteen tries, ninety one points, a maiden try and try hat trick for rookie standoff Josh Luxon, a maiden try for winger Jeff Angila, still a colt and a debut try for second row Tom Bernhardt.

The first ten minutes looked grim for Cullompton as they conceded a penalty try in the first minute, their centre Adam Pearce was binned and just before he returned opposition centre Tony McCarthy scored and his full back James Wood converted for 0-12. Just as Cully supporters were bracing themselves for a drubbing Bernhardt collected a try at the back of a fine maul in the eighteenth minute and after another nine minutes of encouraging play parity was achieved when Luxon scored with an unlikely chip and chase and Pearce converted. Smarting, Torquay reasserted themselves and the score was 12-31 by two minutes after the break with tries by number eight Louis Harben, Wood and veteran centre Dan Taylor with two Wood conversions.

In the grandstand Cully resignation was again turned to belief with their team bagging three rapid tries. Flanker Josh Mammola collected a well deserved score behind a maul, Luxon ran seventy metres for a great individual effort and Angila easily outpaced the defenders to the line. Pearce converted Luxon’s try but narrowly missed Angila’s which would have put the scores equal. The visitors then fully employed the pace of their backs for Taylor, Harben,Wood and McCarthy all to touch down second tries with two Wood conversions totting up to an unassailable fifty five. For team manager Steve Luxon the last minute was the best as his son Josh pulled off another great individual try for his hat trick and a final result of 36-55 with the Pearce conversion.

One of the talking points of the match was the performance Luxon. As a flyhalf he was passable and with experience and practice with that big boot he could develop into a valuable resource for the club. Certainly a precision kicker might have kept the game in the Torquay half in the final twenty minutes but the fear of the free running opposition backs discouraged that course of action as they ran away with four quick tries and the match. The remarkable thing about Luxon’s hat trick was that all three tries were individual efforts. A very optimistic chip and chase secured the first one when the dozing Torquay defender, back turned, was waiting for the ball to roll dead and Luxon approached seemingly unheard to touch down under his nose. The supporters had recovered from their mirth sufficiently to cheer wildly when Luxon took the ball just outside his own twenty two and ran in an outrageous second try having shown enough pace to completely avoid the defenders. The drinks were on him and dad Steve that night when he managed another in the final minute although only from the halfway line on this occasion!

The reliable trio Pearce, Paul Surridge and Ross Crang were the only players who have been in the lineup all season and the fact that the result of this game was so much better than anyone had dared forecast pointed to some good play on the part of those who had played with them. Tom Pitkin continues to develop at nine with a number of attempts at the sniping run and one fine example of a box kick. Jacob Broom had another good game on the flank and Bernhardt deserved his try for his work in the second row. Angila showed he was a try scorer if he can be sent away with the ball in his hands and fiercesome Chris Pring filled the key position of hooker with some accomplishment; only losing one throw “not straight” and making his lineouts a good platform with his looping balls.

There are a group of spectators who are composed mainly of old forwards who like to see a dirty shirt at the end of the game and sit together in the middle of the stand muttering about the conduct of the game; the Panel shall we call them. The Panel are very keen on tackling and loose play around the breakdowns and felt that three players in the Cully side stepped up to the mark, set the example and provided the catalyst around which other team members produced a reasonable team performance. Young prop Kevin Davies drew attention to himself as he showed strength in the front row and a flanker’s determination and commitment in the loose and Sam Budget seemed to shrug off concerns about his recent injuries to put in a resolute performance at full back to look a reliable stopper against some big evasive Torquay backs. Although usually one of the first on the team sheet but has been unwell for some weeks, the Panel’s man of the match was number eight Josh Mammola who seems to have rapidly recovered his best form and was certainly a big factor in making the Cully forwards a very credible force for the duration of the game.

Finally the Club should thank Andy Issacs who put his ravaged body on the line once more for a cameo performance in the second half. Struggling to get his socks on in the changing rooms afterwards he said how much he enjoyed himself but some feel he should come along and stand in the middle of the grandstand for the coming season. It would be good for the Panel to hear one opinion from the twenty first century!