Withycombe Keep Up the Pace on Leaders

Withycombe played host to basement boys Newquay Hornets at Raleigh Park on Saturday afternoon. After last weeks National Vase victory the Green and Blacks would want to keep the momentum going, and that would make for painful watching for any Hornets supporter as they were on the wrong end of a drubbing. Newquay, who were promoted from Cornwall One last season, have struggled this season trying to keep players at the club and are propping everyone else up in the league table. However they never gave up against the Withies, who are still right on track for promotion in which is now a three horse race. Withycombe committee member John Drew said before the game that Withycombe would have to "play for the full eighty minutes" and that they would always have to "hit the catcher".

The game started and there was almost immediately a knock on. The Withies set the tone with a catastrophic scrum, pushing Newquay backwards and stealing possession. Five minutes later and off of a five metre scrum in Newquay territory, Joe Parkin would pick and go to the short side and put Corporal Hayes in the corner for Withycombes first try. Glen Channing kicked the touchline conversion to leave it 7-0.

Despite their rocky start, Newquay weren't lying down. They were unlucky when an intercept went to ground, and with some slick hands they managed to get through the Withy defence, although they didn't get any points.

Withycombe worked their way back down the pitch, and on eighteen minutes the Withies had a penalty. Quick thinking and pest Joe Parkin took a quick tap and took off, some slick hands to Adam Morris and then to Jack Downie who cantered into the corner to score Withycombes second. The extras were missed leaving it 12-0.

The game wasn't without it's big hits though, as back came Newquay with a bit of gusto. However, Liam Cullen was throwing his weight around, as was Neil Williams. With the defence holding firm, a Newquay box kick was charged down, and Mike Richards would get his size 13 on the loose ball and kicked it downfield. Neil Williams was there to snuff out any return and earnt Withy a five metre scrum. The scrum was won and it was a simple miss pass to Jack Downie who put winger Kev Rodwell in for a try in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving it 17-0.

The next try was straight from the training ground. Withycombes line out was functioning well, and with the line out secured off the top from Wade "Randy Savage" Cooper, Channing hit Jack Downie, who cut a delightful line through a gaping hole in the Newquay defence and showed a clean pair of heels from forty metres out to score his second to make it 22-0.

There was more one way traffic. Mike Richards carried well, as did Sam Manning. But Withycombe wouldn't score anymore points in the first half and would have to defend a late siege by Newquay, the Withy try line defence just about holding out.

The second half kicked off and the scoring started. Mike Richards broke up the short side and off loaded to Wade Cooper. The quick ball from the ruck made its way out to Jacques Pugley on the opposite wing as he raced in from twenty metres out for the score.

From the next kick off it was much the same. Cooper took the kick and broke through, then some slick hands bewtween Neil Williams, Terry Mears and Mark Wilkinson had Newquay back on their line, as Mike Richards picked and went from a yard out to bulldoze over for the next score. Both the kicks were successful to leave it 36-0.

The next try from the kick off came after Tom Steer found himself some space and off loaded to Sam Manning, who broke through, then off loading to a charging Mike Richards. Richards fed Adam Morris who galloped in from 20 metres out. It too was converted, making it 45-0.

Withycombe were now playing with some jouer. Neil Williams started with a barn storming run, with Terry Mears carrying hard in the centre. Then it was a case of "champagne hands" as the ball went all the way along the back line to Kev Rodwell, who dashed over to score from the half way line.

Straight after that try it was back to business, as Wade Cooper and Terry Mears linked up to make some yards
Then the ball went from Channing to Downie to Morris to Pugley who danced over from twenty out to continue the rout. Both were kicked to leave it 59-0.

Newquay started to play, and after getting the turnover they countered and broke through the middle. Terry Mears had to pull out a big hit in a one on one, but then got sin binned shortly after for hands in the ruck. Newquay did manage one try though. After Withycombe took a free kick quickly in their own twenty two, an opportunistic Newquay player stripped the ball and ran it in from twenty out. They missed the extras to leave it 59-5.

On seventy five minutes Liam Cullen carried up the middle, as did Mike Richards. Man of the Match Jack Downie received the ball, and with some quick feet Bruce Forsyth would be proud of he opened up a gap and accelerated toward the line, going over untouched from thirty metres out to secure his hat trick for the day to make it 64-5.

There was just enough time for one more try. Newquay cleared the ball into touch, and after some unusually fast thinking from Terry Mears, he took the lineout quickly. Mike Richards was on hand to then give an inside pop pass to Full Back Jacques Pugley, who gleefully ran it into the corner and dotted down, the conversion missed and the final whistle blown. Withycombe resounding winners by 69-5.

Withycombe are at Raleigh Park again next week for the next instalment from the Cornwall and Devon League when they take on Plymstock Albion Oaks. Kick off 2.30pm.