Withycombe Stun High Flying Falmouth

Withycombe hosted top of the table Falmouth on Saturday afternoon at Raleigh Park. The two teams rivalry has always lead to some fantastic battles in yesteryear, and this game was no different. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the Eagles gave the Withies a good old fashioned drubbing. This meant Withycombe were playing with a point to prove, and having been out of the promotion race for a while, it was time to show the league the potential they have.

The visitors knew that a win here would crown them champions of the Tribute Cornwall and Devon league. Unfortunately for them, Withycombe had other ideas, and as the rain lashed down before the game it wasn't just the pitch that was sodden as the Green and Blacks snatched a dramatic victory to dampen any championship chat, at least for another week.

Right from the kick off Withycombe were on the attack. From a ruck penalty the ball was sent to the corner. With the lineout won, the ensuing maul by the Withies was driven down the slope towards Brook End for a good fifteen metres, and as it rumbled over the line Dave Richards flopped down to score Withycombes first try, Glenn Channing adding the extras. It was clear early on that Withycombe were stronger up front, which was a key part to the games outcome. On eighteen minutes and after their first foray into Withy territory, Justyn Irons kicked a penalty to make it 7-3.

It took until the half hour mark for the next points of the game. Falmouth had their tails up after absorbing a lot of pressure in their own half. From a lineout in the home sides 22, they too flexed their muscles at maul time as they drove over the line to score a converted to leaving it 10-7.

Back Withycombe came though, with Caleb Sampson in the centre having a field day running hard. Number 8 Toby Papp and openside Neil Williams were also marauding around at will, giving Withycombe plenty of "go forward" ball. With the conditions not exactly ideal for running rugby, it was back to "up the jumper" rugby as Withycombe, again from a lineout and directed by scrum half Jack Sullivan, chugged a maul slowly but surely over the Eagles line, this time with the added help of veteran centre Paddy Gore as his touchdown put Withycombe back in front right before the half. Channing converted the touchline conversion to leave the score 14-10 at the turnaround.

With the superior scrum and the lineout functioning well, they knew where the game would be won and lost. The first ten minutes of the second half were spent on Falmouths five metre line. Withycombe had the penalty and opted for the scrum. Andrew Dudley, Liam Cullen and Phil Sluman lead literally from the front, with Mark Wilkinson and Doug Wibberley in the engine room. Withycombe were turning the screw at the scrum, and five penalties later there was still unbelievably no penalty try. All that hard work never paid though as the Green and Blacks were penalised for a "foot up" in the scrum, and Falmouth cleared their lines.

The next ten minutes were played in the middle of the park, most of the territory coming from the respective boots of Channing and Irons. New boy Joe Satts made a nuisance of himself, cutting through the visitors defence on two occasions, as did Adam Sperry and Sam Warren. The Eagles had a man sent to the sin bin, but Withycombe couldn't make the numerical difference count. On thirty two minutes however, Falmouth once again showed why they are top of the league with another catch and drive try from Tom Tomkin having been camped on Withycombes line for the previous five minutes. irons missed the conversion, leaving just a point in it at 15-14 and all set for a grandstand finish.

From the ensuing restart, Man of the Match Toby Papp tackled a player and simultaneously stripped the ball and powered his way upfield. With the baying mob of Withy supporters shouting them on from Clubhouse Corner, it was almost last chance saloon. Dave Richards carried the move on, and with the ruck won Withycombe already had penalty advantage. All eyes were on Channing as he struck the ball through the uprights to move Withycombe ahead 17-15 and whetting the Raleigh Park appetite for their biggest scalp of the season.

In a heart stopping last five minutes, Falmouth threw everything they had at Withycombe, producing two penalties both of which were forty plus metres out. Irons missed both, the second falling short by metres. But it wasn't over yet as back came the Eagles, however with desperate times they were caught at the ruck as jackal fiend Liam Cullen got the penalty turnover to all but seal an emphatic victory for Withycombe in their last home game at Raleigh Park this season and Falmouths second defeat this league term. It really was a game that'll be remembered by some for years to come.

Next week Withycombe take on Pirates Amateurs at the Mennaye.