Dartmouth RFC 7,
Ivybridge Vandals 41
Dartmouth had a week off from league action, but welcomed an Ivybridge second team who were challenging Dartmouth for the South Hams Cup.
Dartmouth had a full squad to pick from, but were looking to give some game time to players who had been on the fringes of the team during the league campaign.
The team also had a debutant prop in the form of Luke Armitage, who made his first start for Dartmouth.
It soon became apparent that Ivybridge had come to play and got off to a flying start with three tries in the first 10 minutes.
Two of their efforts were converted to make the score 19-0 to the away side.
After a stern talking to from the Dartmouth captain, John Dingle, the team seemed to awaken from their lethargy and stopped the rot with some good defensive tackling, more than holding their own for the remainder of the half.
Just before half time Dartmouth re-arranged their team, with Luke Armitage having to go off injured, Luke Bonstow coming on at centre and Karl Caunter moving into the forwards as flanker.
The second half was a one-sided affair with the Ivybridge team scoring at intervals throughout the half, even though the Dartmouth side never gave up and defended well, the Ivybridge team just had too much gas and were well drilled, what you would expect from a team whose senior side play several leagues higher.
With 10 minutes left to play Dartmouth scored a consolation try through Jack Clark, with Richard Lobb converting. The final score was 7-41 to Ivybridge.
Although well beaten, Dartmouth can take a great deal from the game, as they were always competitive, the set piece went well and the defence was good, as the score could have been a lot greater.
Back in the clubhouse at the Seale Arms, the South Hams Cup was presented to the Ivybridge captain and Dartmouth’s ‘player of the month’ award went to Jack Stirk. Dartmouth are at home to Torrington in the Devon Two League on Saturday, with kick off at 2.30pm.