WELLINGTON were beaten 23-13 at home to Devonport Services in Tribute Western Counties West but it was a match that Wellington could well have won based on their competitive first half performance.

Sadly it was lost through their now all too familiar lapses, some of which were self-inflicted, handing the initiative back to the opposition who made no mistake with their opportunities.

The home side opened the game unfazed by their form to date, pushing forward and probing the Services defence.

And they were rewarded after ten minutes with a penalty which full-back Doug Baker carefully slotted home.

Inevitably the visitors struck back following a grub-kick chase. The ball was won by the home defence but the continued pressure subsequently told and fly-half Matt Anstis levelled matters with another penalty.

Wellington responded with surging breaks from forwards Ross Ward and Micky Norman who both made good yards and secured possession.

It was from such a situation that the next score came as the ball was released inside to stand-in fly-half Pat Jarman. He showed his class as he headed for the gap between the Devonport fly-half and inside centre, sold the perfect dummy, and continued his run through to the posts for a try which Baker converted.

The Red and Blacks looked in quiet control at this stage as they confidently repulsed their opponents who inevitably tried desperately to get back on terms.

The half, which had been interrupted for several stoppages, looked to be nearly over when Wellington were awarded a penalty on their own 22.

However a home player continued to voice his dissatisfaction far too vehemently at opposition tactics in the tight, prompting the referee to immediately reverse his decision.

The Devon side needed no second invitation and plonked the ball into touch in the corner.

They duly won the line-out and drove over with most of their side helping lock Richard Young to get the final touchdown.

Anstis again levelled the scores with the conversion which almost visibly deflated the home side as they had to settle for level-pegging at the interval.

With the momentum now in their favour, the visitors quickly got the crucial next score three minutes into the second period when a swift break could not be stopped.

Again it was Young who got up in support for his second try of the match which went unconverted.

Wellington could not seem to raise their game for a considerable time following this blow – as hard as they were trying – and they succumbed to another body blow midway through the half.

The Services’ backs replacement Alex Percival rounded off another forward power play for a five pointer.

With two scores now needed, the necessary urgency returned to the home play and the match became a much more even contest again.

However more unnecessary verbal indiscipline gave away three further ten yard advantages to the visitors at penalties, giving them welcome breathing space.

The home pressure finally yielded a chance and with ten minutes to go Baker reduced the deficit with another penalty but the visitors countered this with an Anstis penalty for the final score.

Wellington: P Ash-Smith, T Sargent, L Wadham, H Ramsay, R Ward, C Kitto, D Lee, M Norman, M Parsons, P Jarman, N Pitman, W Hancock, G Hooper, A Johnson, D Baker. Replacements: D Swann, R Symons, P Smith.