This was a match for which the cliché “a game of two halves” was invented.

However, the visitors very nearly nicked a victory in the last minute, which would have kept them in pole position, as the match ended in controversial circumstances.

It always looked likely to be a close encounter following the dramatic draw between the two sides back in November, but by half-time the Teigns looked to be out of sight with a 19-3 lead.
Teignmouth took an early lead with a flowing move, orchestrated by youngster Joe Simmonds, which ended with Chris Tidman crashing over in the corner.

Although Kings managed to reduce the lead with an Ashley Treeby penalty, they never looked likely to cross Teignmouth’s line, and in the last 10 minutes of the half the visitors built up a seemingly unassailable lead. First Henry Raby showed the home defence a clean pair of heels on the wing, and then Will Sowden snaffled the ball on the halfway line to run in his 16th try of the season. Simmonds’s two conversions completed the first half scoring.

Things looked even blacker for the home side when they were reduced to 14 for the first ten minutes of the second half following a yellow card. But clearly their coach had read the riot act at half-time, and they shocked Teignmouth with a high tempo assault which brought 18 points in 12 minutes.
Following Rob Parsons’s yellow card, Kings notched a Treeby penalty, and then two tries from Matt Hamilton and Sean Woodland, both of which Treeby converted. And it got worse for the visitors when Hamilton added a second with fifteen minutes remaining.

Nevertheless, Teignmouth have shown excellent fighting spirit all season, and they were determined not to lose top spot without a fight. Once again, Pete Parsons marshalled the lineout splendidly to score his ninth try of the season, and then the controversy began. Simmonds’s conversion was so close to the upright that spectators and touch judges alike were unable to agree whether it was successful. After consulting both of his assistants, the referee decided not to allow the kick, and Teignmouth trailed by one point.

This decision was compounded with the last move of the match when Sowden appeared to have scored a try in the corner, but the home touch judge ruled that he had a foot in touch. The referee admitted that he was unsighted, and therefore was obliged to accept the touch judge’s decision.

So for the first time in seven matches Teignmouth failed to win, but managed to stay in contention in third place thanks to two bonus points.

Teignmouth will be trying to return to top spot this Saturday with a home game against lowly Bude, kick-off 2.30pm.

Match Report: Paul Williams
Photo: Sarah Veacock