Dartmouth RFC 19,

Salcombe RFC 12

Dartmouth have won their last three games now and this game was down to pure determination.

Once again Dartmouth had to start with a disjointed front row; John Dingle, new signing Tom Clarke and a welcome return from Glen Allison making up the front three. Second row Dave Rudling slotted in at number eight in another positional change.

Once again this was an agricultural rugby game, producing injuries to both sides, just what coach Lee Chase didn't want with the long road to Ilfracombe coming this Saturday.

The first twenty minutes of the game was an even contest, with both teams trying to dominate the game.

With Dartmouth disjointed in the scrums, Salcombe soon realised that this would be a route to exploit.

With twenty-three minutes gone, Salcombe broke the deadlock and scored, but missed the conversion.

Dartmouth, not too disappointed with the score, almost hit back immediately, but couldn't penetrate the well-drilled Crabs defence and it was to remain Dartmouth five points behind with the half-time whistle blown.

Skipper for the day Nick Shillabeer praised the lads and asked for 40 minutes of pressure on Salcombe. Shills said that Dartmouth were playing well, keeping to the game plan and also saying that it was time to put their foot on the gas and they did just that. 

With four minutes after the start of the second half, Richard Lobb picked the ball up from a loose pass from the Crabs' three-quarters.

Running seventy metres, Lobb drew the man, releasing the ball to Nick Shillabeer, who spun the ball left to John Dingle, who went in for try number one of the afternoon.

Richard Lobb stroked the ball over for Dartmouth to take a well-deserved lead.

Half way through the second half Salcombe scored again and this time kicked the conversion.

Dartmouth replied quickly with Richard Lobb again intercepting a ball from the Crabs three-quarters, looping the ball to Jai Prettyjohns. Prettyjohns in turn released Gerard Picot, who went over for try number two for Dartmouth. Richard Lobb got the extras to take Dartmouth back into the lead at 14 - 12.

With five minutes to go Nick Shillabeer took the ball on, passed to Richard Lobb, who found Ben Peters. Peter showed good strength to push his way over for try number three of the afternoon.

Dartmouth at last put last season's nightmare behind them to take the score to 19-12 at full time. 

Dartmouth can take a lot from this warm-up game for the Ilfracombe game this Saturday.

Dartmouth's threequarters at last are singing from the same song sheet and even with a disjointed front row, Dartmouth were no mugs with the srums and line-outs.

Richard Lobb was also striking the ball sweetly, finding his range and Nick Shillabeer seems to have rediscovered his kicking game, finding his kick offs and touch with ease. There was also a good shift from Tom Clarke, John Dingle and Dave Rudling, keeping the forwards in check.

A mention has to go to Steve Atkins for arranging this game for Dartmouth as a free week would have been sacrilege.

The game was sponsored by Mama's Kitchen, a new Italian restaurant in Lower Street.