Hakes All at Sea at Devonport

Devonport Services 39 v 25 St Ives

Western Counties league champions St Ives travelled to Devonport for their last away game of the season last Saturday. St Ives travelled having only been defeated 3 times on the road this year, but in this game they came up against a very determined Devonport side.

The game began well for St Ives. From the kick-off they applied pressure to the Devonport defence that saw them lay siege to the home side’s line for the first 10 minutes. The pressure was rewarded in the 5th minute when Jamie Hoskin went over for an unconverted try to give St Ives the lead.

The home side must have been fearful of a heavy defeat due to the intensity with which St Ives had started the match. However, the game began to change after 10 minutes as Devonport found their feet in the match and also their pace with the ball in hand.

Sixteen minutes in and their new found confidence was underlined when Ed McGinley crossed for a try that Matt Anstis converted. Only 5 minutes later Toby Knowles doubled Devonport’s lead with another try again converted by Anstis.

With St Ives now on the wrong end of a 14 points to 5 score line they had to try and rekindle the intensity that they began the match with, but they began to struggle against a determined Devonport side who were taking control of the game.

Just past the half hour mark Devonport grabbed another try, this time through Callum Perkins, which went unconverted to push them further ahead at 19 points to 5 which was the score when the referee blew the half time whistle.

The second half began as much of the first half had played out with Devonport on the attack. In only the first minute after the restart Ed McGinley grabbed his second try of the match. Again Anstis added the extras to put Devonport in control at 26 points to 5.

The home side added two more unconverted tries in the 45th and 56th minute respectively through Joe Page and Jack Martin to put the home side out of sight at 36 points to 5.

For the remainder of the match, much to the surprise of the home crowd, the St Ives players mounted something of a comeback. In the 63rd minute replacement winger Matt Nicholl scored an unconverted try out wide on the right to make it 36 to 10.

With St Ives suddenly beginning to move the ball around nicely, another replacement, Chris Quick, went in for another try in the 65th minute to make it 36-15.

Despite the St Ives revival it looked unlikely that they would score three converted tries to get them on terms with Devonport, but that didn’t stop them having a good crack at it.

Number 8 Martyn Lawrance crossed for St Ives’ bonus point scoring try in the 72nd minute which again went unconverted to make the score 36-20. Then Devonport somewhat steadied the ship with a converted penalty chance form the boot of Anstis to make the score 39-20.

St Ives had the last say in the match with another unconverted try this time through centre Tom Nicholas to round off the scoring in the 79th minute and confirm the final score Devonport 39, St Ives 25.

This convincing victory for Devonport moves them into second place in the league ahead of St Austell who went down by 29 points to 8 at Kingsbridge.

St Ives is back in action this coming Saturday with their last league fixture of the season at home to Falmouth. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00pm; any home support would be very welcome.

St Ives: Ben Taylor, Rob Elloway, Leigh Hocking, John Lamsin, Jamie Hoskin, Cameron Bone, Sean Stevens, Martyn Lawrance, Sam Carter, Paul Thirlby, Pete Mabbott, Rhys Brownfield, Tom Nicholas, Liam Jolly, Grant Thirlby.

Replacements: Jamie Prisk, Chris Quick, Matt Nicholl (All Used).