Yatton 3-17 Torquay

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Channon try double points Tics towards overdue win
Monday, March 01, 2010, 09:34

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South West One
AT last and not a moment too soon! Torquay Athletic's long wait for a win is over.......

www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk
Report courtesy of the Herald Express


Eight games had elapsed since the Tics last won a match – a 12-10 verdict over St Mary's Old Boys back in November before the bad weather socked in.
Since then the Tics have been sliding closer and closer to the relegation trap door, which is starting to creak alarmingly below them.
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There is some way to go before Torquay are safe, but at least they are heading in the right direction now.
They remain three of the bottom of the table – which is the last of the relegation places – but with safety now in sight.
Ivybridge, the first side Torquay need to overtake, are just two points ahead, having played one less game. They have a tough run in which includes leaders Hartpury, second-placed Newton Abbot, Clevedon (5th) and Cullompton, who beat them on Saturday in a rearranged game.
Sidmouth are three points ahead from one more match played. Avonmouth, Brixham (3rd), Clevedon and Cullmopton is a rough end to the season.
Torquay have Yatton (again) and doomed St Mary's, both at home, which they have to win. No other results are acceptable. Someone along the line the Tics need to nick a win off St Ives (A), Avonmouth (A), Cullompton (A), or Brixham at home on the last day of the season.
"It was great to finally get a win, but we are not out of the wood yet," said director of rugbyMike McDonald.
"Yatton at home and St Mary's are games we have to win – and we must pinch one somewhere else.
"Yatton were massively fired up for this game and we had to soak up loads from them early in the game.
"Tom Channon, who had an outstanding game, turned the tide when he scored and took two Yatton guys over with him.
"There were times when we let the ball go out, then dropped it in the backs, so we brought it back into the forwards and kept it there when we could.
"When Andy Knight came on in the second half, it gave us another option at the front of the line-out and we were securing good ball there, which we hadn't been before.
"Chris Sherlock came up from the colts for his first game and did everything asked of him. He didn't have much to do in attack, but defensively he dealt with everything they threw at him. It was a promising debut."
For Torquay the value of having Knight back fit after foot problems for what remains of the season cannot be underestimated.
Knight is the sort of player who changes games, not just contributes to them, and in Torquay's situation is a sight for sore eyes after five months out.
This game was won and lost on the hour mark when hooker Channon – whose form is attracting the attention of clubs near and far – steamed over for his second try in the match.
Until Channon's intervention the game had been nip and tuck with more chances spilled in the cloying mud than anything else.
Channon's first try came before half time when Yatton failed to clear a James Wood penalty attempt and the nuggety youngster got to the loose ball first. Wood made sure of the conversion.
George Osborne's penalty minutes later gave Yatton some comfort as the sides turned around 7-3 to Torquay.
Yatton tried to play the more adventurous rugby, but it was Torquay who looked the stronger with a heavier pack more suited to the conditions.
A player from each side was sin-binned in separate incidents nearing the last quarter.
It was still nail-biting stuff until Torquay attacked from a midfield scrum and were halted shy of the home line.
A five-metre Torquay scrum evolved into a maul and gave Shannon his second try as he burst through at pace.
With five minutes to go Wood knocked over a penalty to settle the question once and for all.