Ton dish out a pasting to Argum

By Justin Nuttall

Saturday saw Honiton's back in league action against struggling Plymouth Argum. With Honiton having the small mater of the quarter final of the National cup next week the Ton's management team took the opportunity to rest a couple of players. There was pre match lunch for club sponsor Giles Bamberger so there was again, a health crowd down on what was a rather blustery day.

Honiton kicked off up the slope and with Argum clearing their twenty two straight into the arms of full back Andy Easton it was returned with interest and Honiton then remained camped in the visitors 22 but were guilty of spilling the ball to give away possession however it wasn't long before the deadlock was broken when Robert Price bludgeoned his way over from short range and Jake Smith added the extras for an early lead.
The Ton were soon back up field again and Smith was cut down by a great try saving defensive tackle out wide however the ensuing Argum line out was over thrown and Price gathered and crashed over again.
Honiton were now in full control and a ball swung right saw good hands from Josh Rice and Louie Lane and this put Kyle Blackmore in space and he crossed unopposed. Tom Steer added the extras.
With Honiton's superiority in all aspects of the game they then got a little sloppy and maybe there was a little bit of "line fever" on show as a couple of easy changes were missed. However scores kept coming Rice crashed over as did Louis Groves and with Steer kicking both Honiton turned round at half time 33 to the good with the game over as a serious contest.

For the hapless visitors the task was immense as they tried to defend the slope. The second half got underway and after receiving the kick off Honiton were soon down the bottom of the field. Price was held up over the line and from the scrum Louis Groves got his second try of the game.
The flood gates opened, Smith got his first try of the game out wide on the left, having receiving a great pass from Josh Rice. Tom Steer split the uprights from out wide and the lead increased to 45 points.
Argum resistance then held firm for a short while until James Coutts Tucker weaved his way in under the posts and with the conversion slotted the score moved to 52-0. Then straight form the restart Rice got his second try of the game running in from the half way line.
Honiton will be cross with them selves as a mistake and a penalty in front of their sticks was the opportunity for Argum to open their account and avoid the white wash but at 59-3 it was a little more than a consolation score.
The Ton bounced back, Tom Steer went through off a great pass from Alex Brooks and he converted his own try. Right from the restart Jason Hannay caught the kick and broke down the wing and fed his brother Nathan who got in on the try scoring act.
There was time for one more score as Rice broke through again and as they say in rugby there was a bit of "jug evasion" as he put Brooks in under the posts and frankly at a canter, the Ton dished out another 80-3 pasting to the Plymouth side.

There was obviously some great tries scored but Honiton's standards are now much higher and mistakes at key times were made. Maybe this can be attributed to the opposition making things to easy for the battle hardened Ton and once again it's hard to be critical when you win by so many and frankly it was a demolition job by a strong unit. Rice was given the man of the match award but as a collective it's feet back on the ground and a big week as the squad prepare themselves for the quarter final of the National cup which unfortunately is away to Chesham next Saturday. Kick off is at 2pm.