Dartmouth RFC 45,

Plympton Victoria 7

Dartmouth were flattered by this scoreline. Plympton Victoria represents all that is good in rugby union. A club that was formed by a few guys in a pub from which they took their name, they have graced the Devon league two for many years.

They provided good, clean opposition to Dartmouth, who were looking for their second win in this year's championship.

It was the visitors who impressed most after the start and for the first quarter of an hour Dartmouth did not win any ball with which to play, losing line-outs and scrummages to a well-drilled outfit.

However, against the run of play, a well-taken penalty by Nick Shillabeer to the corner provided a platform for a well-executed catch and drive that resulted in a Declan Hammond try that was converted by Richard Lobb.

Lobb was almost immediately successful with his second following John Dingle's trade-mark try – a powerful break from ten metres taking the score to 14- nil.

Dartmouth then started to win ball, at last, but Vics' defence stood firm and there was no further score in the first half.

The second period started just like the first and the home team were pinned on their line for the first quarter of an hour. It took a dazzling run by Karl Caunter of some 80 metres to get them into the visitors' half, which led to John Dingle's second try which was unconverted.

This seemed to take some steam out of the opposition and a loose kick down-field was taken by Aaron Hunt, who set-off on a beautiful, jinking run of some 70 metres that led to a try in the corner by Luke Bridgeman, the fourth and bonus point try taking the score to 24-nil.

Dartmouth defence had been good with Bridgeman and Charlie Watson, lately arrived back from swanning around the Mediterranean, providing some impressive tackling in the centre.

When Watson left the field the Vics' centre tore through a gap and scored a well-deserved, converted try for 24-7.

From then on it was one-way traffic as Dartmouth settled down up front and the irrepressible Dingle laid on a try for Scott Silsbury under the posts.

Dave Rudling and Bridgeway then combined in a great run that only a knock-on at the death prevented from ending in a try.

This was at once remedied by Rudling, who scored a converted try to take the score to 38-7.

The final try was scored by 'twinkle-toes' Declan Hammond, unaccountably on the left wing, converted by Richard Lobb to make the final score 45-7.

So Dartmouth got their second victory of the league but they need to up their game, particularly from both kick-offs, if they are to have any influence this season.

Injuries to the front row players have taken its toll on the club and several players are out of position. Rumours of new players arriving to boost the playing strength abound and various returning globe-trotters will be welcome, too.

Seven tries and five conversions to one converted try sound a very one-sided game, but this was not the case and Plympton Victoria deserve much credit for the way they stuck at their game.

Small rugby clubs are finding it as hard to survive as small pubs these days and they should both be cherished.