Devon Two. Dartmouth 46,

Tamar Saracens 13

IN previous years, Dartmouth have been notorious for being slow starters – but not this year.

The Riversiders sent out a message to all the teams in Devon Two: 'Don't come to Dartmouth unprepared; if you underestimate this ever-growing side, they will bite you – and it's gonna hurt'.

The Dartmouth lads went through Sarries like fish through water; they were as slippery as eels and as elusive as the invisible man.

In Steve Atkins' absence, Matt Putt and Robin Lumley took over as coaches, Barry French ran the line in the absence of Kenny Raisin and, in all, five first-team players were absent for one reason or another.

Captain Will Lockerbie gave a stern talking to to his men in the changing room and they came out of the blocks quicker than Usain Bolt.

Tamar Saracens came with an identical kit to the Riversiders and, as a goodwill gesture, Dartmouth changed their strip.

Richard Lobb started the rout with a well-taken penalty within three minutes and a Martin Sharam try made it 10-0 after 20 minutes.

Lobb was in the thick of things again soon afterwards, this time catching the Sarries' restart and spinning the ball out to Jake Bridgwood.

He ran a full 30 metres, slipping one tackle then another, and side-stepping the advancing full-back to score, making it an easy conversion for Lobb to make it 20-0 with only 32 minutes gone.

Sarries had a word with themselves and they fought back and were rewarded with a penalty of their own four minutes later.

This time Dartmouth were adjudged to have been holding on in a tackle and another penalty three minutes after that for an offside decision from a ruck made it 20-6.

The Riversiders had to have the last word in the half, though, and it was Jake Bridgwood again making another of his line-breaking sprints to score and Richard Lobb converting to make it 27-6.

While the backs got the glory in the first period, the forwards deserve great praise, with Dave Cudd, Jerry Wiltshire, Karl Caunter and Simon Entwistle, to name just a few, going the extra mile.

The second half started pretty much as the first half finished; straight from the restart, vice-captain, Declan Hammond stole the ball from a ruck to make it 32-6 on the 45-minute mark. New signing Ben Peters took over sprinting duties from Jake Bridgwood and ran a full 40 metres and, with Scott Silsbury running off his shoulder, cleverly dragging the spare man with him, he touched down for his debut try.

Lobb stepped up to add to Sarries' woes with another conversion to make it 39-6 on the hour mark.

Matt Putt rang the changes after the Riversiders had secured the bonus point and brought off Jerry Wiltshire for Steven Hall, Jake Bridgwood for Tom Jones and Luke Bonstow for Chris Payne.

The reshuffle seemed to disrupt the Riversiders and Sarries hit back with a try of their own with only five minutes to go and also got the conversion to make it 39-13.

Dartmouth hit back in the last play of the match with Ben Peters again making a dash for the line, with Scott Silsbury about the only player within five metres of him.

However, there was no way Peters was going to pass and he duly scored his second try of the game, with Lobb adding the extras to take his personal points tally to 16.

Man of the match was Dave Cudd, who no doubt is still feeling the effects of his brilliant scummaging and counter-rucking.

Karl Caunter came a close second for his constant rummaging for the ball in a position he was born to play in.

All in all, it was a great performance from all 18 players and, of course, the superb crowd of more than 50 supporters cheering the lads on.

Special thanks go to Pauline and Alan Hook for the catering and Pauline's daughter Sian for cooking the food.

The Riversiders have a friendly against Torquay 2nds on Saturday away from home, so it will give you all chance to draw breath for the next home game.

This is against Newton Abbott 2nds on October 15.