16th April
Cornwall and Devon League
Liskeard and Looe 3 Teignmouth 14
And so the league season which began back in September with a home defeat against Liskeard and Looe finished with an away victory against the same opponents.
Back in the dark days of October and November, when the Teigns lost ten matches on the trot, it seemed scarcely credible that they could avoid relegation after only two seasons in the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League. As it turned out, safety was guaranteed some while ago, and a ninth place was secured with this somewhat unexpected win against a side which had been pushing for promotion until recently.
This was an excellent performance from forwards and backs alike, against a side with one of the best defences in the league. The visitors never looked in danger once Jake Bury opened the scoring with a try in the first half, and Chris Sherlock converted to ensure a half time lead of 7-0.
When Teignmouth have managed to win plenty of possession this season, it has usually resulted in either Chris Tidman or Will Sowden crossing the opponents’ line, and this week it was Sowden’s turn to do the honours as victory was ensured in the second half with another converted try. The home side could only reply with a single penalty.
It really has been a curate’s egg of a season for the Teigns. That winless spell and a series of confrontations with authority were certainly low points, but the free flowing play of the backs, particularly Tidman and Sowden, has been a real positive. It is surprising how quickly a team’s fortunes can change at this level, as has been proved by St Austell’s transformation from last year’s also-rans to this year’s promotion winners. The management, players and supporters at Bitton Park will be hoping for something similar next season.
Although the league campaign is now done and dusted, this weekend sees the traditional Easter tour matches against Old Merchant Taylors. Teignmouth’s 2nd XV face the tourists on Friday at 3pm, while the 1st XV take them on the following day at the same time.
Cornwall & Devon League
Teignmouth 8 Honiton 13
Teignmouth’s final home league match of the season was very much reminiscent of the first; sweltering temperatures, a dust bowl of a pitch, and a narrow defeat for the home side in a low scoring game. Just as Liskeard & Looe had coped better with the unfamiliar conditions back in September, so Honiton ensured their third win of the season over the Teigns with a strong, if uninspiring forward-based performance.
Before the match a lunch was held in aid of the Dame Hannah Rogers Seale Hayne Project. The diners stayed on for the game, and with the fine weather bringing out the locals and a large contingent of Honiton fans, this was probably the largest gate of the season. It was a pity, therefore, that the conditions prevented both teams from playing at their best.
Teignmouth RFC member Peter Cross, better known in rugby circles as “Mr England” spoke at the lunch, and then waved the players onto the pitch as he has at every England match for the past ten years.
This seemed to inspire the visitors more than the home side, as they were quickly into their stride, scoring the match’s opening try within three minutes of the kick-off through scrum half Kenny. Webber converted, and it looked like it might be a long afternoon for the Teigns.
However, little by little the home side began to take control up front, and spent the majority of the first half in Honiton’s territory. But because of some tenacious defending and almost total dominance in the lineout by the visitors, Teignmouth had to be content with a single penalty from full back Chris Sherlock.
There was no doubt that the temperature and the hard pitch were making like difficult for both sides, and the physios found themselves called into action on a regular basis, with the result that the half lasted almost 50 minutes.
Nevertheless, the half time break seemed to have invigorated the home side and in the 47th minute, after some neat handling by the backs, Sherlock crossed the visitors’ line. Sadly he was unable to convert.
Surprisingly the home side seemed to sit back having taken the lead, and the rest of the match saw Honiton control possession and territory, without ever really looking likely to score a try. Teignmouth defended with the same vigour as the visitors had in the first half, but with less than ten minutes to go, tiredness took over and a careless penalty was conceded. Webber stepped up to put the visitors in front 10-8.
Given the pattern of play in the second half, it seemed unlikely that Teignmouth would be able to raise their effort sufficiently to snatch the lead back, and so it proved. Indeed, Honiton looked the more likely to score again, and in the fourth minute of injury time did so with another Webber penalty.
And so a mixed season will draw to an end tomorrow somewhat symmetrically when Teignmouth visit Liskeard & Looe, hoping for better conditions and a more favourable result than in that first encounter back in September.
19th March
Cornwall & Devon League
Saltash 15 Teignmouth 19
If there is one thing that Teignmouth supporters have learnt this season, it is not to leave matches at half time. Only two weeks ago a huge lead at Crediton was surrendered in a tame second half performance, and back in September when Saltash were the visitors to Bitton Park an 18 point deficit was turned over in a thrilling comeback.
So perhaps no-one should have been too surprised that the Teigns, having found themselves 15-0 down at the interval, pulled themselves together, and snatched another victory from the jaws of defeat against the Cornishmen from just the other side of the Tamar. Indeed, the only real surprise was that the visitors, having dominated possession and territory for the majority of the first half, should have shipped three tries at all.
The visitors missed a couple of early opportunities to put points on the board as the Saltash forwards cracked under pressure and gave away two penalties. Unfortunately Sherlock was unable to take advantage.
Teignmouth may have thought that it was going to be one of those days when, despite apparently being in total control, they then conceded three tries before half time. Two of these were breakaways, and for the second week running the Teigns had good cause to be thankful for the wayward kicking of a Cornishman, as all three tries went unconverted.
There was a feeling, however, because of the domination exerted by Teignmouth’s forwards, that all was not lost. As the second half wore on the home side began to be worn down. It was no surprise that winger Chris Tidman found himself on the end of a well-worked move, and he showed his usual ruthlessness. Matt Moses took over the kicking responsibilities and converted.
It was not long before the arrears were reduced to a single point as skipper Colin Aldworth forced his way over the line from close range, and again Moses added the points.
From then on it was only a matter of time before Teignmouth got their just desserts as Tidman scored his eighth try in three matches. There has been much talk of how switching from centre to wing has rejuvenated his season, but it has to be said that he has been prolific all season in both positions, even when the team were in the middle of a long winless run.
5th March
Cornwall and Devon League
Crediton 48 Teignmouth 34
A remarkable turnaround in fortunes during the final quarter of this match left Teignmouth still needing another victory to ensure their survival in the Cornwall and Devon League. But with only 20 minutes remaining they looked nailed on to get maximum points against a team who had defeated them heavily earlier in the season at Bitton Park.
Since the turn of the year a distinct pattern has been evident in Teignmouth’s play; when they can get the ball out to their backs, the unit is as talented and dangerous as any in the league. But the forwards continually find themselves up against bigger packs and therefore the backs are starved of possession. This match was therefore a microcosm of the season as a whole.
The first half an hour of the match saw the sides exchanging tries as winger Will Sowden opened the scoring, only for Gavin Best to nudge the home side ahead with a converted try. Teignmouth again took the lead through centre Sean Lovett, a try which Matt Moses converted. But Crediton used their weight advantage in the scrum to force their way over from five metres and so the scores were level.
At this stage, however, the visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck. With the forwards managing to win some ball, the backs looked likely to score every time they had the ball in hand. Chris Tidman extended his impressive run with another hat trick and Sowden added a second of his own.
All of a sudden Teignmouth were 34-12 in front and had a bonus point in the bag. But Crediton were not ready to throw in the towel. Already in charge up front, they brought on fresher and bigger legs, and decided to keep the ball tight.
It worked a treat. The Teigns were unable to hold back the tide as Shapland (2), Nott, Pearce and Branton took advantage of a tiring Teignmouth defence. Fly half Tom Ronchetti kicked a further four conversions and a penalty as the home side first drew level and then pulled away.
And so an incredible comeback was complete. But in the last minute Teignmouth’s misery was compounded when scrum half Stef Walker allowed his frustration to get the better of him, and earned himself a red card for dissent. It could be that he will have a significant period of inactivity as a result.
So, impressive back play, forwards under pressure, ill-discipline and a disappointing result; these are the recurrent themes of this season. With only a handful of matches left, there is still significant hope that relegation will be avoided. But given the optimism after last season’s heroics, there is bound to be a feeling of disappointment when the final match is over.
The Past Players lunch prior to Saturday’s home fixture versus Falmouth has been cancelled. However it is hoped that former players will still come along to support the team. K.O. 3:00 p.m. There is certain also to be a good turnout of ‘oldies’ on Sunday at Bitton Park when Graham Pattison will mark a major birthday by encouraging many of his former colleagues to don their kit for a run out. Graham has been a great servant to the sport and to Teignmouth R.F.C. for more than 25 years. Having been a key member of Teignmouth teams until his late 40’s, he and his wife Bridget have coached and managed junior teams to great effect.
12th February
CORNWALL & DEVON LEAGUE
HONITON 22 TEIGNMOUTH 10
Teignmouth travelled the short distance to Honiton full of hope after their recent change in fortunes, but left with nothing to show for their efforts.
Once again, a slow start by the visitors was mainly responsible for their defeat, as they found themselves playing catch-up in the second half.
However, the Teigns could have taken an early lead when the normally reliable Matt Moses missed a relatively easy penalty in the third minute. Honiton took full advantage of this let-off shortly afterwards when full-back Rice sliced through Teignmouth’s defence to open the scoring. Meadows converted for a 7-0 lead.
Teignmouth’s pack struggled to impose any authority in the set-pieces, and soon found themselves even further behind as a strong home scrum set up flanker Norman for a second try, which Meadows again converted. Things got even worse when another scrum resulted in Rice crossing for his second try of the afternoon, leaving the Teigns trailing 0-19 at the interval.
As has happened so often this season, Teignmouth rallied strongly in the second half. Their forwards finally started to get a grip on the game, and managed to move the ball out to their talented backs, with the result that winger Will Sowden and centre Sean Lovatt reduced the arrears with two tries in the corner.
Unfortunately this was all the visitors could manage, as Honiton’s forwards again imposed themselves as they went in search of a fourth try which would have given them a bonus point. But Teignmouth’s defence held firm, restricting their hosts to another Meadows penalty.
This will be seen as a missed opportunity by the Teigns, especially as they now face the might of runaway leaders Bideford in tomorrow’s 3pm kick off at Bitton Park. It is to be hoped that the pre-match Vice-Presidents’ Lunch will result in a larger than normal crowd to cheer on the home side.
5th February
TEIGNS BOUNCE BACK
Cornwall & Devon League
Totnes 24 Teignmouth 12
There are some days which are made for playing and watching sport, but last Saturday was not one of them. A strong cross wind, constant drizzle and a pitch which resembled Weston-Super-Mare beach at low tide, all contributed to a lack of the sort of flowing rugby which Teignmouth’s supporters had enjoyed the previous week.
Not that Totnes seemed in the least bothered by the conditions, as they racked up a club record 13th victory on the trot, despite strong resistance from the visitors. Certainly the home side have had easier victories during their impressive run, but this will be of scant consolation to the Teigns.
The attritional nature of the match was set early on, as both teams found it easier to defend than to attack with the ball in hand. Indeed, it seemed that the home defence had had prior warning of the threat posed by Teignmouth’s backs, as free-scoring centre Chris Tidman in particular found himself being marked by two or three tacklers each time he had the ball.
Consequently, try scoring opportunities were severely limited in the first half, as Teigns’ fly half Matt Moses and Totnes’s scrum half Mark Hooper exchanged penalties early on. Given the weather and pitch conditions, it is to the credit of both kickers that they were able to convert their chances with such regularity, and the sides turned round with the visitors happy to have a slight lead, 12-9.
Unfortunately, a yellow card during the first period for each side hinted at the way the game was going to turn in the second half. As the game became increasingly bogged down, tempers flared and the referee found himself having to make a series of decisions which both sides seemed happy to contest with some regularity. The referee had to warn both sets of players and the Totnes management about this constant dissent.
Sadly for the visitors, this breakdown in discipline seemed to affect them more than their opponents, with the result that, within 10 minutes of the re-start, Totnes found themselves pulling away. First Hooper levelled the scores with yet another penalty, and then hooker Steve Blackie forced his way over the line from close in.
In the meantime Tidman had become the second Teignmouth player to receive a yellow card, and shortly afterwards things got worse as the referee awarded a penalty try to Totnes after the visitors’ defence collapsed a maul on their own line.
Hooper’s conversion completed the scoring, as Totnes seemed content to keep the ball under close control and stifle whatever possession the visitors could manage. This led to more frustration from Teignmouth, and a third yellow card was given to hooker Andy Webber for dissent.
After the game, Teigns’ skipper Colin Aldworth sportingly refused to blame the referee for his side’s defeat, preferring to focus on their inability to use the ball as effectively as they had the week before. Much of the credit for this must go to the organisation of Totnes’s defence – it is no accident that they have strung together this great run, and they will be a tough nut to crack during the final months of the season.
As for Teignmouth, they are starting to gain an unwanted reputation for ill-discipline. Referees this season have, in general, shown no reluctance to keep their cards in their pockets. Against Torrington two weeks ago Teigns managed to score a try despite being temporarily reduced to 13 men – they must realise that if they keep having to play a quarter of the match or more with short numbers, more often than not they will suffer on the scoreboard.
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