Tribute Western Counties West

Ivybridge 27,

St Ives 11

Ivybridge take a break from league action this week as they entertain fellow Western Counties West side Teignmouth in the Devon Intermediate Cup writes Tim Leigh.

Ivybridge first team coach Neil Thomson indicated it was likely he would use the match to give some of his first team regulars a rest and blood some peripheral and second XV players.

He said: 'As a coach, you obviously want to see all of your squad. The second team has been playing really well and individuals deserve the chance to show us what they can do.'

The other consideration for Thomson is that Teignmouth pay another visit to Cross-in-Hand at the end of the month, and with the league being a professed priority, Thomson doesn't want to show his hand too early.

Their next league match takes place on November 23, when Ivy travel to Tavistock for what Thomson expects to be a bruising encounter. He said: 'Tavvy will be a difficult match, I expect them to be raring to go.'

When asked whether they are getting used to having a bullseye on their backs as the league leaders, Thomson said: 'In terms of being the team to beat, our squad are very young, they've only played a season, season and a half of league rugby, so they're not bothered.

'They've come through a successful colts side, they're used to winning, and don't have any fear.'

Ivybridge maintained their position at the top of the league with a comfortable bonus-point win when they welcomed St Ives to Cross-in-Hand last Saturday.

It is a mark of how well Ivybridge have been playing this season that Thomson admitted the players were a little disappointed with their performance, despite securing the maximum five points.

He did, though, give credit to St Ives, who had bolstered their pack with some new recruits and who competed strongly with Ivy in that area.

The penalty count was another reason for a slightly disjointed performance, with both teams feeling the wrath of the referee as the game saw 33 penalties and two yellow cards for Ivies.

Thomson felt the referee could have let the game flow a little more, with the breakdown a particular bone of contention, but did admit his team were grateful 50 minutes in when when their rolling maul was stopped 15 metres short and the referee awarded a penalty try straight away.

With full-back Tom Scoles still out, Haydn Coles filled in again, with debutant Sean Mallony coming in to the left wing.

After an early exchange of penalties in the opening five minutes made it 3-3, it was Ivybridge who landed the first significant blow. They took a scrum against the head, with scrum-half Ben Watts breaking down the blindside and feeding Mallony, who took the ball into contact.

The forwards got there to recycle the ball and Matt Grieveson floated a long pass to George deMendonca, who finished in the corner. With Grieveson missing a tough conversion, Ivy led 8-3.

Unfortunately for Mallony, his game ended after 25 minutes due to a dead leg, but his replacement, 17-year-old Adam Clayson, proved his worth with the game's second try.

Before that, however, Ives closed the lead on 28 minutes with a penalty for 8-6, then a slightly disjointed first half saw George Wilson get yellow carded before the break.

Clayson extended Ivybridge's lead with just three minutes gone of the second half. Grieveson kicked to the corner and the returned Wilson stole the St Ives' throw.

The ball was then spun wide to allow Clayson to finish well in the corner despite the attentions of two defenders. With the extras again being missed, this took Ivy a try clear at 13-6.

Seven minutes later came the moment that St Ives' fan may find disturbing, as an Ivybridge rolling maul 35 metres out advanced closer, being 15 metres out when it was pulled down and the penalty try awarded.

With Grieveson slotting the kick from in front, Ivy now led 20-6 and were hunting the bonus point.

Ten minutes later number eight Dan Barnard became the second Ivybridge player to go to the sin bin and soon after Ives used their numerical advantage to perform a well-worked pick and go move from a scrum to score an unconverted try for 20-11.

The last try of the game was scored by full-back Coles, who took the ball deep in his own half and chose to kick.

With the Ives' defence making the mistake of letting the ball bounce, it ended up spinning right into the arms of Coles, who oflloaded to allow Ben Watts to charge over.

Grieveson notched the extras for the final score of 27-11, with Ivy demonstrating that they have the knack of all great sides, winning well while not playing their best.