David Butt

Memorial Trophy

It was Dartmouth’s turn on the road this week, for the return game in round four of the Dave Butt Trophy and they were away to near rivals Salcombe.

A full squad of 20 travelled along with club officials and supporters.

The Dartmouth home leg had been cancelled due to Salcombe player unavailability so there was no previous form to go by, but Dartmouth were confident of a good result, based on other results in the competition.

Both teams started tentatively and it was not until the ninth minute that Dartmouth had a scoring chance when Jack Clark, who was taking over kicking duties because of an injury to Luke Bonstow last week, slotted over a long range kick to make it 3-0 to the Darts.

This was the catalyst Dartmouth needed and after some strong pressure from the away pack, second row Alex Parrot went over the line for a score, Clark just missing the conversion from wide out on the touch line.

Dartmouth now had their best spell of the game so far, with great runs from Gary Rooney and Ted Duberley (who touched down over the line, but the referee was unsighted and unable to award the try), making inroads into the Salcombe defence.

Further ground was gained when 17-year-old Dartmouth deputee Ryan Burrows found himself held up over the line, but from the ensuing scrum Dart­mouth did get their second try through an on-song Parrott, with the conversion from the tightest of angles by Jack Clark.

This left the half-time score 15-0 to the River­siders.

Early in the second half, fly-half Luke Chase found a gap in the Salcombe line and sailed through for a touch down under the posts, with an easy conversion for the kicker.

An injured Alex Par­rott now made way for another Dartmouth youngster, Miles Chur­chill, with Burrows changing places with Dominic Calvert on the 60-minute mark.

After a Salcombe dropped pass, Church­ill swooped on the ball to canter over for his first try for Dartmouth, which Jack Clark – having great day with the kicking tee – slotted over to make the score 29-0 to Dartmouth.

One more change to the Dartmouth line up saw Dan Greeno re­place Ben Peters on the wing, but it was veteran centre Richard Lobb who had the last word with a try right on the whistle, with the conversion just getting away from the kicker.

But a bonus point win with five tries scored and no points against is a good day at the office.

Though Salcombe were unable find a way through the Darts defence, it was not all one-way traffic and they must be congratulated for making it an entertaining game.

Dartmouth can be pleased with the result and the improving team performance, with man-of-the-match Luke Chase now showing some of the skills he had acquired before having a sabbatical from rugby for the past couple of years.

With the other youngsters snapping at the heels of the older Dartmouth players, the season looks very promising. Dartmouth are at home to OPM’s on Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm at Norton Playing Fields.