Brixham 3-16 Torquay

12/01/08 17:00 Filed in: Match Review
The Tics were convincing winners in the first game of their 2007/8 Devon Cup campaign. The defending champions were down to 12 men at one point and Brixham were reduced to 13 as Mr Watters saw yellow mid-way through the first half, and the game had the tension and flash-points one would expect in a local derby. Torquay will be pleased that they managed to nil the Brixham try count, and barring two opportunities early in the game, the hosts never looked like troubling the visitors' try-line. The question now is whether Torquay can repeat the feat when the two sides meet again in a fortnight for the Astley Park League match.


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Report courtesy of the Herald Express

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Brixham 3pts, Torquay Athletic 16

Torquay kept their grip on the Devon Cup after getting the better of their arch rivals in a typically rumbustious derby clash.Six yellow cards were shared between the two sides - and both camps felt a few more could have been issued if the referee had put his mind to it.

At one stage Torquay were down to just 12 men with Chris Hallett, Scott Rylance and Tom Havill all in the sin-bin.

The Tics held out under pressure and even at their thinnest limited Brixham to little worthwhile possession.

Colin Rylance, Torquay's director of rugby, said in a game of few chances the Tics made the best of theirs and Brixham didn't.

"Considering the conditions, which were awful, both sides put on a pretty good show," said Rylance.

"We had a couple more try scoring chances than Brixham did and scored tries from them.

"You can't pick out individuals on a day like this: it was a team effort that won the game

"It was a game we couldn't afford to lose if we wanted to keep the season really alive.

"After some disappointing results in the league, the cup represents our best chance of winning something."

Brixham had the best of it early on and went 3-0 up thanks to a Matt Dempsey penalty.

Torquay responded with a try on the right by wing Ben Dommett and went 8-3 up when Matt Jackson landed a penalty.

Brixham had their moments in the second half - a forward pass possibly cost them a try - but Torquay played the percentage game well.

The Tics waited for a chance to come along and when it did wing Matt Allanson splashed through the mud to score in the corner.

A Jackson penalty ended Brixham's hopes once and for all.

Torquay came into the cup at the quarter-final stage so this win put them into the semis.

It will be a while before Torquay find out whom they will be up against in the last four.

The paper trail starts with Honiton and Tiverton, who should have played each other yesterday, but didn't, for the right to meet Exmouth in the quarter-finals. The winners of that match will host the Tics in the semis,


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