Final score: South Molton 22-19 Withycombe RFC

With the slope in their favour, South Molton got off to a strong start, spending plenty of time in the Withy half. Within just a few minutes, the visitors thought that they had got the opening score, however with the ball travelling forward on the way to the line, play was bought back for the scrum and Withy could clear their lines. This early flurry of activity soon settled down to allow both teams some time with the ball, looking equally threatening in attack as they looked solid in defence.

The opening score would be down to whoever would make the first mistake defensively, to the joy of the home crowd, the opening score went the Withies' way as a lovely run from Max Rickards made plenty of ground and with the tackle coming in, Rickards handed off to Jake Prophett Oneill with expert timing to allow the second rower to score. Harry Symons' conversion attempt was spot on too to give Withy a 7-0 lead just before the end of the opening quarter.

As would be the general tale of the game, a further period of equally matched rugby followed, although as time went on it was the Mid Devon side that began to gain the upper hand of the game as they gained further territorial advantage and with that significant pressure in the Withycombe 22'. This pressure was well rewarded as South Molton scored two tries in just three minutes to propel themselves into the lead at 7-12.

Withy responded immediately however and ensured that the ball was to stay in the visiting half for a while. Within two minutes of the restart, Withy were back ahead after an attempted clearing kick found the hands of the Max Rickards once again who doubled up on his tally of precision hand offs to allow George Toomey over the line to score. With the conversion from Symons adding the extra two points, the Withies went into the break 14-12 ahead.

Despite more early pressure from the visitors in the opening exchanges if the second half, it was Withycombe that began to dominate a little more of the play as they pinned South Molton into their own half for a good ten minutes, unfortunately Withy were unable to capitalise on the pressure and score any points.

It would be Molton that would score again next as they benefitted from a couple missed tackles to give them the space and win the footrace to the try line and score under the posts to regain the lead, a lead that was to be extended further with a penalty in front of the posts five minutes later. With a healthy 8-point lead, South Molton regained that role of pressure makers and commanded the play for much of the remaining time on the clock, however Withy struck late in the final minute through a great run by Danny Sansom to score in the corner and reduce the points deficit to three, earning themselves a consolatory losing bonus point. The final score, Withycombe 19, South Molton 22.

Although there was no win this week, the late try to earn that losing bonus point shows the team's persistence in the game and the attitude to not give up until the final whistle. A skill which will do them will for the remainder of the season, whether ahead or behind in the closing stages of a match.

Withy will learn from their mistakes as we reset and get ready to go again next week where we take a brief break from the league to commence the Devon Junior Cup against Plymouth-based side OPM at Raleigh Park next Saturday. Kick off there will be at 3pm – as ever, we hope to see you there!