we are certainly over the moon that this has benefited us and I feel like we deserve the promotion after the year we've had... I know that myself, Glenn and all the boys are really looking forward to next season.

- Head Coach, Sam Williams

It may have been under strange, unprecedented conditions, but Withycombe have been crowned champions of the Tribute Devon 1 2019/20 season!
The season ended rather abruptly back at the end of February following the evolving situation around the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, with the RFU suspending all rugby activity and then going on to cancelling the season later in March.
With the decision to end the league early being made, the RFU said that they would look into several options with regards to league outcomes. However, it was feared throughout the rugby community that the current season would be marked as null-and-void, meaning that the season would need to be replayed during 2020/21.
However, in a statement released last week, England Rugby stated that they would be calculating the predicted final league placings for each team and allowing promotion and demotion to take place.
In this final calculation, the hard work of the boys and their coaches was rewarded with a final position of first place on 108.67 points, 29.23 points ahead of second-placed Tamar Saracens.
This final winning positon sees the boys in green and black return back to the Tribute Cornwall/Devon league after just one season away.

Speaking after the announcement, Head Coach, Sam Williams said: “It was a really nice surprise this week to see the RFU complete the season in the way that they did working out average points per game in order to decide final league standings. Having been mathematically only two points off guaranteed promotion it would have been a tough pill to swallow had we had to remain in Devon 1 for another season however this isn't the case now and I know that myself, Glenn and all the boys are really looking forward to next season.
Whilst I know there will be lots of clubs disappointed with the standings worked out this way, we are certainly over the moon that this has benefited us and I feel like we deserve the promotion after the year we've had.
Devon and Cornwall looks like an even tougher League next season than it was last season with the inclusion of Cullompton and Saltash as two well-established clubs. We are also sad to be changing places with Exeter Athletic as we did last season, as it would have been nice to add another local derby to the calendar. Fingers crossed we can both do what we need to do to be able to face each other again in the future.”
Director of Rugby, Rick Libbey added to this, mentioning the outstanding achievement of players, coaches, management, physios and travelling supporters.

Here are the 17 unbeaten results that saw Withycombe earn their promotion…

Buckfastleigh Ramblers 10 - 46 Withycombe
Withycombe 24 - 8 Old Technicians
Dartmouth 7 - 70 Withycombe
Withycombe HWO Plymouth Argaum
Exeter Saracens 21 - 24 Withycombe
Withycombe 6 - 0 Tamar Saracens
Withycombe 86 - 7 Torrington
New Cross 12 - 52 Withycombe
Ilfracombe 19 - 31 Withycombe
Withycombe 53 - 14 Totnes
OPMs 14 - 26 Withycombe
Old Technicians 14 - 26 Withycombe
Withycombe HWO Dartmouth
Withycombe 68 - 0 Plymouth Argaum
Withycombe 62 - 8 Exeter Saracens
Tamar Saracens 7 - 26 Withycombe
Withycombe 31 - 7 Ilfracombe

Who will Withies be facing in Cornwall/Devon?
Along with Withycombe being promoted from Devon 1, Hayle and Newquay Hornets will also be joining the league as they were promoted from Cornwall 1. As Sam mentioned, Saltash and Cullompton will also be joining us as they make the drop down from Western Counties West.
These teams will join existing teams to complete the league with the following full line up…

Bude
Cullompton
Hayle
Liskeard-Looe
Newquay Hornets
North Tawton
Pirates Amateurs
Plymstock Albion Oaks
Saltash
Tavistock
Topsham
Torquay Athletic
Veor
Withycombe

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the whole club, to congratulate each and every one of the boys that pulled on the shirt this season, along with Coaches Sam & Glenn for their success. We would also like to thank Sam & Glenn as well as team Physios for their support of the team. Thank you also to this year’s sponsors and those at the Exmouth Journal (especially Steve Birley) and also the guys at ExmouthAiR for their support, build-up and reports each week. Lastly but by no means least, we’d like to that YOU, the supporters for being there with us with your supportive voices come rain and shine, I know the support really helps to drive the boys on each week so… THANK YOU!!!

Here’s to 2020/21 and until then… keep safe and stay indoors!