Cornwall & Devon
Lanner 21, Wellington 36

AWAY league games are never easy and, having never played Lanner before, this was a trip into the unknown for The R&Bs, writes Allyn Chetland.

After a two-and-a-half-hour coach trip deep into Cornwall, the team arrived at St Day to be confronted with a wet and heavy undulating pitch.

The R&Bs played with the slope in the first half and went on to play some excellent rugby, especially in the first 20 minutes, dominating all aspects of the game. 

Danny Lee was first score after great play by Corey Jenkinson, and Alex Davey slotted the conversion from the touchline. 

Further pressure by the visitors resulted in a penalty by Davey which was soon followed by a Nev Pitman try, Davey again made no mistake with the extra points. 

Lanner responded with an excellent converted try of their own. 

Wellington bounced back with a Jenkinson try after great work by the forwards following a five metre attacking lineout. 

Davey was unsuccessful this time with the touchline conversion, making the half-time score 22-7 to the R&Bs.

Now playing against the substantial slope, the R&Bs continued in the same vain in the second period as they finished the first half - on top. 

An excellent break by captain Paddy Jarman was capitalised on by Liam Phillips who scored underneath the posts for the bonus point try and, again, Davey made no mistake with the extra points. 

The R&Bs fifth and final try was an absolute beauty by Phillips, who danced and weaved his way to the try line from 45m out leaving numerous Lanner defenders floundering on the ground behind him - Davey converted from the touchline. 

Lanner came back into game with two converted tries, benefitting from some very debatable and confusing decisions from the man in the middle.

The whole squad can once again be pleased with their contribution towards this bonus point away victory. 

Lee & Phillips were stand out players, while debutant Nat Louis had a decent introduction to 1st XV level. 

Wellington: R. Marke, J. Dyke, L. Wadham, R. Walker, H. Ramsay, L. Phillips, D. Lee, M. Norman, C. Jenkinson, P. Jarman (C), C. Batts, G. Hodgson, B. Gamlin, N. Pitman, A. Davey, J. Hancock, N. Louis, M. Walker.

There is no game for the R&Bs on Saturday but the team will return to action on Boxing Day when they travel to near-neighbours Wiveliscombe in what is sure to be another keenly-contested local derby.

Somerset 2 South
Wiveliscombe 2nds 17, Winscombe 2nds 33

WIVELISCOMBE 2nd XV gave second-placed Winscombe a good test in this Somerset 2 South encounter played at Plain Pond. 

The visitors dominated the first 40 minutes, outscoring the home team by four tries to one thanks to Paul Cashand, Ben Hellings, Tom Ware and Matthew Hoy-Green, who also added three conversions. 

Wivey’s first-half points came from a Dan Clarke try, converted by George Rowe, to make it 26-7 at the break.

The hosts then gave a strong second-half performance, scoring two more tries and limit the away side to one.

Joe McConnell and Gavin Dawes crossed for those two tries, to give the home team a chance of taking the honours at 26-17, but Winscombe secured the victory with a Matthew Dodd try in the dying minutes.

WIVELISCOMBE 1st XI saw their Somerset Premier match at Weston Hornets called off at very short notice.

With the visitors in their pre-match warm-up, Hornets announced they were unable to field a full team.

Wivey now have to wait until Boxing Day for their next game - the much-awaited annual fixture on Boxing Day at home to near-neighbours Wellington.

This is a double-header, with the club’s 2nd XVs facing each at 11am, followed at 2.30pm by the 1st XV clash.