A big crowd, bolstered by a large number of Vice-Presidents, saw Wellington achieve their 5th consecutive league victory of the season against the visitors from Devon last Saturday, writes Allyn Chetland, keeping up the pressure on league leaders on Penryn in the process. For the R&Bs George Hodgson returned to the squad replacing the injured Ethan Staker, Chris Batts stepped up from the bench with Danny Lee returning to pack whilst Brad Field replaced Batts on the bench.
The first 20mins of the half was a competitive affair with Tavistock putting up stubborn & resilient defence coupled with some excellent passages of attacking play. The deadlock was broken just after the 20minute mark when winger Nev Pitman crossed for a well worked team try, Alex Davey made no mistake with extra points. This try was the spur that the R&Bs needed to go onto bigger and better phases of play whilst it had the opposite affect for the visitors who struggled to contain the now free flowing R&Bs . The next 20 minutes saw the R&Bs go on to dominate the rest of the half running in another three tries, two of these via Pitman and one by Davey with Davey converting two to make the halftime score 26-0 to the R&Bs.
Now playing towards the clubhouse in the second half the R&Bs went onto again dominate proceedings immediately from the re-start with Tavistock rarely threatening throughout the second half apart from the final period of the game when the result was never in any doubt. Second row Regan Walker crashed over soon after the re-start, which was converted by Davey, to extend the lead and further demoralise Tavistock. The R&Bs took full advantage scoring further tries by Hodgson, flanker Liam Phillips, a fourth for Pitman and the final try by scrum half Corey Jenkinson. Davey converted 4 of these tries. The final 10 minutes saw Tavistock camped on the R&Bs line desperately seeking a late consolation try which in reality they did deserve. However resolute and aggressive defence by the R&Bs saw these efforts prove unfruitful and the final score remained 59-0.
Scoring 4 tries Pitman thoroughly deservedly the plaudits in the clubhouse afterwards but not far behind him in the pecking order was fullback Davey who had his best all round game of the season so far. The whole squad can be very content with their contributions to this entertaining victory, the only slight injury concern is No.8 Micky Norman who left the field halfway through the second half with a groin injury.
Next week Chiefs travel to Torrington, a club Wellington have not visited for a number of seasons.
Team: R.Mark, J.Dyke, L.Wadham, CKitto., R.Walker, D.Lee, L.Phillips, M.Norman, C.Jenkinson, P.Jarman (c), N.Pitman, B.Gamlin, G.Hodgson, C.Batts, A.Davey, J.Hancock, B.Field, H.Ramsay