At the beginning of the season the buzz-word around Bitton Park was “consolidation” – a first season ever in the

However, following this impressive victory against one of the pace-setters Teignmouth have now to be considered as serious promotion contenders in their own right.

Before the game, Teigns’ coach Simon Morrell had highlighted the danger presented by the Somerset side’s pack, and in the set scrum they were indeed formidable, causing the home forwards all sorts of problems from start to finish. However, the longer the game went on, the more Teignmouth’s pack began to dominate the loose play, so much so that four of their five tries were scored by forwards.

A few eyebrows were raised before the match in the clubhouse with news that 17 year old Joe Simmonds would be making his debut after only one Second XV appearance. Nevertheless, Morrell’s faith in the youngster proved well-founded, as the lad grew immediately into the number 10 shirt and showed nerves of steel with his passing, kicking from hand and, in the second half, place kicking.

It didn’t take long for Morrell’s warnings about the Somerset forwards to prove correct. At almost every scrum throughout the 80 minutes the Teigns found themselves in reverse, and the result was an early score from Stags’ number 8 Ross McKechan, which Tim Piper converted.

But the home side were not in the slightest bit fazed, as, scrum aside, they found themselves on top whenever they were able to move the ball through their forwards.. One of this season’s star performers, flanker Luke Pattison reduced the arrears halfway through the first half with his fourth try of the campaign, and it was clear that Teignmouth were well in the hunt.

However, just on half-time, the scrum creaked again and a penalty try, converted by Piper, was conceded to give the visitors a 14-5 lead.

There was no need for Morrell to read the riot act at half-time; calm instructions about sticking to the game plan and taking advantage of a strong wind was all that was required, and the second half turned into a procession towards the Burnham line.

First Will Sowden put on a trademark burst of speed to score his 14th try of the season, before Simmonds took over the goal kicking duties to slot a penalty and bring the home side within one point.

Then replacement number 8 Jamie Gray showed a clean pair of heels to the defence to run in a try from near the halfway line, Simmonds adding the extra two points. The game was as good as over two minutes later when Simmonds fed skipper Colin Aldworth to allow him to crash over. Again Simmonds converted and the bonus point was in the bag.

There was still time for Pete Parsons to complete yet another well-practised lineout move with a try and send a large and noisy crowd to the bar happy.

Coach Morrell said that he was never worried in the first half because “there’s more to rugby than scrummaging!” and left anyone who would listen in no doubt that he sees promotion as an attainable target now. It seems that “consolidation” has suddenly disappeared from the Bitton Park dictionary!

The club will be hoping for another large crowd this week as Penryn are the visitors. The Cornishmen inflicted Teigns’ first defeat of the season, and this is a match which Teignmouh have been targeting ever since. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.

Teignmouth and Exeter College’s Ben McDonald represented Devon U20s against England Colleges at Plymouth Albion last Sunday. Devon won 19-15, and Ben now hopes to remain in the squad for the upcoming County Championship competetition, where Devon play Cornwall away on 23rd February, and Dorset at Topsham on 23rd March.

Photo: Lorna Gray