Devon Two

Dartmouth 29,

Plympton Victoria 11

Dartmouth were back in League action this week with an away game to Plymouth side Plym Vic.

Dartmouth arrived with plenty of time and were able to run through some back moves and for the forwards more practice on the line-out.

Plym Vic started strongly and secured a penalty after only a minute that was easily put between the sticks, 3-0 to the home side.

But this was swiftly rectified by a penalty to Dartmouth that fly-half Richard Lobb stroked over the bar to make it 3-3.

Midway through a rather dour first half, Plym Vic were awarded another penalty for a Dartmouth ruck in­fringement and it was 6-3 to Plym Vic.

Towards the end of the half Dartmouth scored their first try.

From a well-executed line-out, a great driving maul brought Dart­mouth deep into the Plym Vic 22, where, when the call came to use it, scrum-half Rory Shillabeer passed to Lobb.

He skipped inside a Plym Vic player and went through the posts for a try and duly planted the ensuing conversion to make it 10-6 to Dartmouth at half time.

The second half continued in the same vein as much of the first half, with neither side able to put much of their respective game plans into action.

Dartmouth were playing as individuals and not being savvy to what was needed, but probably the best move of the match resulted in a further try for Dart­mouth.

After a good spell of play from forwards Varney, Shillabeer and Clark, the ball was sent out along the back line, with Dartmouth debutant centre Tim Brown going over the whitewash. Lobb was unable to convert, leaving the score 15-6 to Dart­mouth.

Dartmouth now seemed to realise what was required to secure a bonus point and after some powerful running, Varney was held up over the line, but the pressure did not go unrewarded and shortly after full-back Dan Jones scored a try, with a conversion from Lobb making it 22-6.

Plym Vic were now rewarded for their dogged resistance and scored a try, but were unable to convert so the score stayed at 22-11 to Dartmouth.

The Dartmouth team were not to be denied the bonus point win, though.

After a punishing bout of play on the Plym Vic try line, where Clark was also adjudged not to have grounded the ball, they finally scored through player-coach Tom Clark, with Lobb add­ing the conversion for 29-11.

So the bonus point win was achieved, but Dartmouth know they will have to do a lot better against the stronger sides in this division.