MATCH REPORT – SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2011 – DEVON INTERMEDIATE CUP R. 1: IVYBRIDGE 15 V TORQUAY ATHLETIC 32
Torquay Athletic ground out a satisfying way win at Ivybridge in a First Round Cup match. Success was based on good kicking from hand in the first half by nos.15 and 10, Tony McCarthy and James Wood to maintain territorial advantage when playing down the slope and with the wind allied to stubborn defence in the second period during which limited visits to the opposition final third yielded points on three occasions for the Visitors.
Within 13 minutes of the start each side had swopped penalties by their respective fly halves, Adam Bradley and James Wood for 3 –3.
It was half an hour before the visitors capitalised on sustained pressure. After being held up over the line Tics won the resulting scrum and off second phase prop Jon Woodhead barged over. Wood converted to give Torquay a 3 – 10 advantage. This was extended five minutes later when good build up play culminated in Woodhead cutting through on a good line from close in. Again Wood converted to extend the margin to 3 – 17.
With the last play of the half Ivybridge crisply executed a training ground move from Tics 22’ when Bradley drifted left and released outside centre Matt Lamont on a well timed inside pass but the missed conversion meant that it was 8 – 17 at the break by which time Torquay’s centre Matt Jackson and lock Tom Whitford had departed to knocks.
After the restart Ivybridge applied their own pressure but on 46 minutes Tics broke upfield and Wood slotted a drop goal from the 22’ for 8 - 20. These points were valuable as Tics then had to reshuffle when livewire open side flanker Simon Mabin suffered a knock and was replaced by Russ Morris who was soon departing for 10 minutes courtesy of a yellow card from Referee Nigel Boyd for climbing over defending at a ruck.
For the next quarter of the game Torquay found it difficult to cross the half way line. However from a clearing kick Ivy threes’ ran the ball back only to be held up on their 10 metre line and the ball was turned over from where skipper Wood danced his way through the opposition for a solo score under the posts which he converted for 8 – 27.
Minutes later from a set scrum Ivybridge reduced the deficit to 15 – 27 when another identical switch inside from Bradley put Tom Scholes over with Bradley converting.
However Tics finished strongly and right on full time a series of forward drives resulted in Morris barging over for a final score of 15 – 32.
In the next round Tics in February have a home tie against Plymouth Barbarians who defeated Teignmouth 17 – 18 at Bitton Park.
TORQUAY TEAM:
15. Tony McCarthy, 14 Andy Gormley, 13 – Ollie Pitts, 12 – Matt Jackson, 11 – Ollie Hill, 10 – James Wood, 9 – Alex Jeffery,
1 – Jon Oliver, 2 – Carl Turner, 3 – Jon Woodhead, 4 – Tom Whitford, 5 – Jon Arnold, 6 – Alex Smith, 7 – Simon Mabin, 8 – Dan Williams.
Replacements (all used) – Russ Morris (FR), Nick Gill (FR), Adam Chadwick, Dave Carpenter.
Other results:
Merit Table 1 : Sidmouth II’s 0 – V Torquay Athletic Extra Firsts 20
Merit Table 2 : Honiton II’s 56 V Torquay Athletic Quins 5
Torquay Colts home friendly game at the Rec. V Topsham Colts was called off by Topsham when they failed to raise a team.
