Somerset Premier
Wiveliscombe 61, Stothert & Pitt 0

WIVELISCOMBE secured their 17th victory of the season to stay top of the Somerset Premier standings, scoring nine tries in the process, writes Roger Bellamy. 

Playing up the slope in the first half, Wivey were put under early pressure by their Bath-based opponents, who kept their hosts pinned in and around their 22. 

The home side managed to keep their try-line intact, though, and gradually gained some decent possession to construct good phases of play.

Prop Matthew Ellis was on hand to finish off a penalty move by crossing near the post, and Dan Quick converted to put his team 7-0 up. 

Ali Vivian proved a handful for the visitors throughout the game, scoring Wivey's second try following a good drive from his fellow forwards, and again Quick added the extras. 

Stothert were now struggling to contain the home team's free-flowing game, conceding another three first-half tries. 

Jake Sharland proved too quick for the cover defence, to claim two tries before the break, while forward Simon Adams showed good strength to go over. 

Quick added a further two conversions, so at half time the hosts led 33-0.

The visitors, to their credit, competed well throughout the second half, without really threatening Wivey's try-line. 

By contrast, the home side scored a further four tries.

Sharland gained his hat-trick, and fellow winger Sam Gibbs – playing his first game for a while – showed good pace and vision to finish off another attacking move. 

Quick converted both to stretch the lead to 47-0.

Vivian then scored his second try of the match, forcing his way through a tiring defence, and full-back James Adams capped a good all-round performance with the home team's final try of the game. 

Quick completed a good day with the boot by adding two more conversions for a 61-0 win.

The West Somerset team hold an eight-point lead over second-placed Gordano, who had a surprisingly large victory over third placed Avon, 45-17. 

Gordano have two games in hand, so they will be looking to reel Wivey in as the title chase goes down to the wire.

This coming Saturday (March 31), Wiveliscombe face Weston-super-Mare 2nds, but Wivey's 2nd XV are without a game.

Cornwall & Devon
Wessex 0, Wellington 50

WELLINGTON made the short trip down to Exeter to take on Wessex last Saturday, for their penultimate away game of the season, writes Allyn Chetland. 

A very late, and it must be said nervy, pitch inspection was required just before kick-off to make sure the game went ahead. 

Cam Venn and George Hodgson returned to the Red & Blacks' starting XV, with Chris Batts and Will Hinchcliffe taking places on the bench.

Despite a sticky, heavy and in places flooded pitch, the visitors were spurred on by 40+ past players who braved the weather and they went on to play some excellent rugby, especially in the first 20 minutes. 

More rain fell but this did not dampen the Red & Blacks' attack, as they went into half time 24 points to the good via tries from Tyler Hart, Danny Lee, George Hodgson and Alex Davey, with Davey adding two conversions.

The away side continued in the same vein in the second period, remaining well on top. 

Wessex had no real response to the pace and continuity that was on display from their visitors, and they rarely threatened the Wellington try-line. 

Danny Lee scored his second try of the game, converted by Davey, very soon after the interval. 

The Red & Blacks went onto score three further tries, courtesy of Hart (his second), Lee (his hat-trick) and Chris Kitto with a pushover try towards the end. 

Davey converted three to take the final score to 50-0.

This was a very pleasing bonus-point win in very difficult conditions, with Wellington's pack dominant in all phases, while Wessex had no answer to the skill and pace of their three-quarters. 

Wellington: R. Marke, J. Dyke, L. Wadham, S. Jordan, C. Venn, C. Kitto, L. Phillips, D. Lee, T. Jenkinson, P. Jarman (c), G. Hodgson, B. Gamlin, N. Pitman, T. Hart, A. Davey, J. Rowlands, W. Hinchcliffe, C. Batts.

Next week sees Wellington – one point clear of Penryn at the top of the table – travel to Penzance to take on the Pirates Amateurs for their last, and longest, away league match of the season. 

The Cornish side are languishing near the regulation zone so once again The R&Bs will have be prepared for a tough battle as the Pirates try to put some distance between themselves and the three teams below them.