Teignmouth moved up to third place in the league as they completed the double over St Ives

league title, but the visitors have coped far better following promotion.

It had been four weeks since Teignmouth’s last game, but the break had come at just the right time for their smallish squad; injuries had started to pile up, but the rest enabled top try-scorer Will Sowden to recover from a shoulder injury, and gave skipper Colin Aldworth the chance to recharge his aging batteries, and both played a major part in the victory.

The Teigns’ game-plan is very much based on establishing control up front before releasing their young and talented backs, and the pack, ably marshalled by Aldworth, soon put the Hakes under relentless pressure. The result was a line-out move which has borne fruit on several occasions already this season, as hooker Pete Parsons forced his way over the line and Dan Force converted to give the Devonians a 7 point lead.

Force will be the first to admit that his kicking has blown hot and cold this season, but it was destined to be one of his better afternoons, as he increased the lead with a penalty, before getting on the end of a move to score his second try of the season, and then duly converting it to give Teignmouth an 15-0 half time lead.
He soon added a further three points with another penalty early in the second half, before St Ives managed to exert some pressure of their own.

Although they lost some influential players at the end of last season, the Hakes can still be dangerous opponents, and they reduced the deficit with a Tom Chandler try and a Craig Williams conversion.

The home fans started to see the possibility of a famous comeback, but Sowden had other ideas. Always on the look-out for an opportunity, he managed to intercept a wayward pass and then showed the sort of pace which had already brought him 11 tries in 10 matches this season. His 12th was converted by Force, and the home side knew it wasn’t going to be their day.

Although they managed to score a second try through Neil Stanlick, St Ives were a beaten side, and it just remained for fly half Mike Saxton to sew up the bonus point with a fourth try just before the final whistle.
Coach Simon Morrell was particularly satisfied with his side’s dominant performance. "A strong team performance, built on a tenacious defence. It was great to see our maul see the New Year in in style. We are now set up for three huge home games!"

The first of these matches takes place this Saturday at Bitton Park where Tavistock will be the visitors, kick off 2.30pm.