Withycombe 8 Teignmouth 48

Teignmouth put two successive defeats behind them to keep the promotion show on the road with a commanding performance over Withycombe. The day got even better as news came through of a surprise defeat for second placed St Ives, leaving the Teigns six points clear at the top of the table.
The Withys have proved a difficult nut to crack in recent seasons, although the gap in class this season was shown back in October when they were put to the sword at Bitton Park. This performance was, if anything, even more convincing as the visitors dominated from the first whistle and never looked in any danger whatsoever.
However, latecomers arriving after 30 minutes of play would have thought that the home side were still in with a good chance, as Teignmouth had by that stage managed only a Dan Force penalty and an unconverted Jamie Rudkin try. When Pugsley scored a penalty for the home side in the 35th minute the league leaders must have wondered if it was going to be one of those days.
Fortunately, this small setback acted as just the spur that Simon Morrell and his coaching team were looking for. The visitors went into overdrive in what remained of the first half; firstly Will Sowden added yet another try to his impressive total for the season, and he was swiftly followed by his partner in the centre, Chris Tidman. Force was in confident kicking form and converted both of these tries as well as the fourth, bonus point, try. This came courtesy of Aaron Kelly, whose graft in the second row merited a rare appearance on the scoresheet.
The fact that the visitors had to play up the slope in the second half seemed not to bother them one jot, as they set about improving their points difference. Tidman added his second try of the game within 5 minutes of the re-start, touching down under the posts again to give force an easy conversion.
Withycombe had not looked likely to trouble the Teigns’ try line at any time up to this point, but a short period of possession enabled full back Tom Steer to touch down in the corner in the 56th minute.
That, however, was to prove the last real defiance from the Exmouth side, as skipper Colin Aldworth marshalled his forwards, enabling the visitors to control the last 20 minutes with some ease, and to add yet more points to the scoreboard.
Firstly Sowden found yet another gap in a tiring defence to set up yet another easy conversion for Force, before in the last move of the game replacement back row Jamie Gray used his fresh legs to put the final nail in the Withys’ coffin.
Morrell was delighted not only with his own side’s performance but also with the news coming through from Tiverton of St Ives’ demise. With seven games remaining, Teignmouth lead the Cornishmen by six points and third-placed Tivvy by 8 points with a game in hand. Tiverton visit Bitton Park next week, but by that time the Teigns will have played their game in hand and be hoping to be twelve or thirteen points clear of their only other challengers for promotion.
That game sees Teignmouth travel to Plymouth to play OPMs this Saturday.