Western Counties West
Wellington 1st XV 20, Truro 14

WELLINGTON avenged their narrow defeat at Truro earlier in the season by claiming a deserved victory against the Cornish side on Saturday.

The hosts shuffled the pack for the match, with props Lee Wadham and Dean Heyl brought into the 1st XV for the first time this season after impressing for the 2nd XV in recent weeks.

The visitors started the brighter, pinning Wellington on their try line for the first five minutes of the game, but The Red & Blacks defence & commitment in this initial period was superb and set the tone for the rest of the match.

After withstanding this onslaught The Red & Blacks played some excellent attacking rugby, and their efforts were soon rewarded by an outstanding team try by winger Jamie Hayman which involved the whole of the team.

Truro responded with a penalty after The Red & Blacks had infringed at a ruck.

The Red & Blacks put the disappointment of two disallowed tries behind them when Tom Hawkings scored another well-worked try, which he then converted himself.

Truro had a fine try scoring chance of their own but were thwarted by excellent defence by The Red & Blacks with Hawkings and centre George Hodgson to the fore.

A period of pressure just before half time saw The Red & Blacks concede a soft penalty on their 22m line which was duly taken to reduce the lead to 12-6 at the break.

Truro began on the front foot after the break and scored after a fine rolling maul by their bulky forward pack to make the score 12-11.

It was The Red & Blacks’ turn to respond now and they duly obliged when another excellent attacking move was thwarted illegally in front of their posts.

Hawkings made no mistake with the kick to extend the lead to 15-11.

The hosts continued to press and were once again unlucky not to score after prop Ryan Marke went on a rampaging run.

Wellington were not to be denied, however, and Jack Woodland finished another excellent team move when he crashed over.

Despite their best efforts, Truro could not get back into the game but did trouble the score board via a penalty.

The final 10 minutes saw The Red & Blacks camped in the visitors’ 22 and the hosts saw another try disallowed, making the final score 20-14.

The whole squad can very proud of their performance, as to a man they gave their all for the team and thoroughly deserved to take the spoils.

***

Somerset Premier
Bristol Harlequins 1st XV 15, Wiveliscombe 1st XV 29

BOTTOM of the league against fourth seems a formality, but this game in Bristol was a real test for the visitors, who were pushed all the way by a determined home team who have improved over the last month.

Wivey showed good form early on, with their pack taking the opportunity from good field positions to score two good driving maul tries, both finished off by hooker Tom Stone.

Fly-half George Rowe converted the second to put Wivey 12-0 up in the first quarter.

Harlequins had their moments but wrong options and dogged Wivey defence prevented them scoring.

With the slope to their advantage, Wivey knew they had to lead by a good margin at the break to secure the win, and two more tries from prop Matthew Ellis – strolling through from a set penalty move – and Jake Sharland, outpacing the home defence, put the visitors in a strong position.

George Rowe converted both tries to give Wivey a 26-0 lead.

Harlequins increased the pressure in the second quarter, with Wivey struggling to contain them, continuing their abrasive forward play and strong running backs.

The hosts scored two tries through Garry Britt and Lee Pearn to close the gap to 16 points.

George Rowe, though, completed the first half scoring with a penalty, for 29-10 at the break.

Harlequins had the edge in the third quarter with the visitors having to draw on their reserves to keep the home team from scoring.

Adam Gittens reduced Wivey’s lead to 29-15 after a period of sustained pressure, but to their credit Wivey showed resolve and comfortably came came through the final 15 minutes.

This bonus-point victory came as a relief to Wivey after recent close defeats.

***

Somerset 2 South
Wiveliscombe 2nd XV 83, Martock 2nd XV 5

WIVEY’S second team were far too strong for a depleted Martock team, the home team running in 13 tries.

Tom Wilkinson scored a hat-trick, with Jason Richards, Danny Gray and Jake Woodward crossing for two each.

Skipper Charlie Rowe, youngsters Frank Norman and Jonti Raul, and Barry Lockyer added one try each, with Tom Wilkinson converting nine.

***

THIS coming weekend the Wivey 1st XV are at home to Bridgwater & Albion 2nd XV in the Somerset Premier (ko 2.15pm).

Albion currently sit 10th in the division, six places behind Wivey, so the hosts will be confident of recording another victory.

The 2nd XV are also at home for a rearranged fixture with Bridgwater 3rds in Somerset 2 South (ko 2.15pm).

A win for Wivey will close the gap between themselves and the teams in the top half of the table.