MATCH REPORT – SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2013 TORQUAY ATLETIC 40 v OKEHAMPTON 20 After the disappointment of a losing start at Wellington a week earlier, Torquay got their home League campaign off to a comfortable winning opening and secured maximum league points. The side was boosted by the League debuts of centre Matt Williamson and lock Rupert Edwards, both students at Plymouth University, who had been introduced to the Club by skipper Alex Jeffery at the end of last season when appearing to significant effect in the much heralded win over Brixham. Once again these players performed to really good purpose, showing energy and enthusiasm throughout. Williamson ended with a try hatrick from inside centre, but it was not just his offensive play which caught the eye: Just before half time one man and ball tackle, taking his opponent to ground, followed by instant planting of his feet and stripping of the ball exemplified what a good technical player he is. However, despite a tally of six tries and production of some attractive rugby in bursts the display included a third quarter when Tics lost their way, allowing Okehampton to claw back from a deficit of 26 – 3, scoring 17 unanswered points to get to 26 – 20. Tics played towards the sea end in the first half on a dry, sunny day with a hard ground underfoot. In Okes first attack Williamson showed alertness by chasing back to secure ball in his own 22’ and make ground to relieve pressure. The opening score came from a lineout in Okes 22’ down the left flank, the ball spun to Williamson on the crash. He broke the first tackle and then weaved his way to the line. Jeffery converted for 7 – 0. Shortly afterwards another attacking, long lineout throw was athletically taken by Tom Whitford and driven on. When the defenders infringed Jeffery called an attacking scrum five and young Sam Fellows, looking at home in the 10 shirt, did well to take a pass around his ankles and burst through with some ease to score under the posts. Another Jeffery conversion gave Tics a 14 – 0 leeway. A worrying trait then re-surfaced from Okes re-start kick, which the Torquay forwards allowed to bounce. In trying to rectify matters Torquay infringed and visiting no. 10 Billy Searle stroked a short range penalty left footed, to open his side’s account. On 25 minutes Searle had another kicking opportunity but hit a longer range effort wide. Tics lineout was functioning well and on the half hour a throw on Okes 10 metre line was taken on by Andy Gormley, coming off his right wing. Again he broke the first tackle and then transferred to Williamson with a well timed pass. The centre scooted in under the posts from the 22’ and another Jeffery conversion made it comfortable at 21 – 3, at which score the half ended. All three Tics tries had come off first phase by attacking a fragile 10 / 12 channel. Credit the home side for exploiting this area, but it may be some time before they encounter such defensive generosity. Within a minute of the resumption Torquay scored the try of the match. Running the ball confidently out of their own 22’ from right to left space was created when the pacy Jimmy Beardsmore made an incisive break. He took the ball on to half way before timing a perfectly weighted pass to Williamson who was virtually clear and who ran in from halfway, 26 – 3. At this point Okehampton stepped up their game, a platform provided by ascendancy in the set scrums for the first time in the match. The visitors almost scored after an attempted intercept by a Tics back on an ambitious long pass by the Okes threes’. Instead the ball found its way to space, wide right and their No. 13 Gareth Espin seemed favourite to score before being pulled back for planting a foot in touch. However Ian Langdridge, Okes seasoned prop then called two 5 metre attacking scrums in quick succession after Tics infringed and when the home back row disengaged too swiftly for Devon Referee Derek Keeling’s liking at the second of these the Official ran behind the posts to signal a penalty try, which Searle converted for 26 – 10. On 53 minutes this became 29 – 13 when Carl Poynton hit another penalty between the posts. Next, a good, deep clearing kick by Okehampton was collected and run back by Beardsmore but when he was stopped Okes flooded the breakdown, winning turnover ball and switching quickly to Espin , who ran in to score. Searle’s conversion gave the visitors real hope at 26 – 20. Torquay’s players then stirred themselves and went on the attack. The team resumed earlier dominance in the set scrum via a clutch of positional changes. Another attacking lineout from 6 metres out was taken on by the pack, but initially repelled. However the forwards re-set and went again with the prominent and hard working Jon Oliver getting the touchdown under a pile of bodies. Jeffery’s conversion from wide out was well struck for 33 – 20. For the next 10 minutes both sides showed enterprise and played open rugby. Torquay went closest to adding to their score when Beardsmore was held up close to the line, but No. 13, Gareth Espin was yellow carded for not releasing the tackled player. Although the mainly young Okes side came back strongly once again Torquay managed to defend intact and then with the end beckoning Tics pack shoved the Okehampton forwards off their own put in, some 30 metres out. Off second phase re-cycled ball was taken on by Jonathan Woodhead, who almost made it to the line, but Edwards, up in support could not hold the final pass. Again from an Okes put in Tics pack pushed back the visiting eight and this time, with the visitors defenders in some disarray, Woodhead managed to squeeze over. Again Jeffery was accurate with a conversion from wide out and his kick was the final action of a day in which Tics had recorded the largest “points scored” tally in Western Counties West. Torquay Team: 15 – Joe Ward, 14 – Andy Gormley, 13 – James Beardsmore, 12 – Matt Williamson, 11 – Aaron Graham, 10 – Sam Fellows, 9 – Alex Jeffery (Captain). 1 – Stephen Smith, 2 – Carl Turner, 3 – Gavyn Webber, 4 – Tom Whitford, 5 – Rupert Edwards, 6 – Jon Oliver, 7 – Richard Read, 8 – Dan Williams. Replacements: Jonathan Woodhead, Jake Knight and Jack Keiller (all played). The game was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Honorary Life Member Stan Foster, who sadly passed away recently, whilst visiting his son in Bath. A match day programme obituary paid tribute to this most popular ex-player and long-standing servant of the Club, whose presence will be hugely missed by family, friends and Members alike. Next week Tics make the short journey to Queens Park for the first local derby of the season against a side yet to record a win in two League outings. Neither the Extras, nor Quins were in action, but the Colts recorded a fine win in their opening friendly of the season at TVN, overcoming Exmouth Colts 29 – 7. Scorers of their five tries were Dan Lloyd, Sam Daly, Josh Madin, Adam Dent and Will Denbo. Jack Taylor weighed in with two conversions.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:54:41 +0000
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