Sat 6 Sep 2025, 15:30
The Winscombe first XV travelled to Ivybridge at the weekend in the first fixture of Regional 2 Tribute South West 25/26, indiscipline costing them dearly in a close fought encounter that was decided by one point. The season ahead is littered with tasty fixtures including a trip to Penzance to face Pirates Amateurs and a much anticipated derby with local rivals Weston Super Mare, but Winscombe’s first match was in the foothills of the Dartmoor National Park.
At newly relegated Ivybridge Winscombe started strongly and were soon on the scoreboard courtesy of a long range penalty kick by captain Sam Dearsley, winning his 200th cap. The lead was extended following a converted try scored off the back of a 5 metre scrum by No8 Ewan Griffith.
Ivybridge were soon to respond and showing their class out wide scored a well worked try in the left corner. They followed this up soon after, taking the lead with a second try after Winscombe failed to clear their lines.
In a topsy turvy game the lead was to change hands twice more before the halftime whistle. Lock Aled Corcoran firstly scored beneath the posts to return the lead to Winscombe before Ivybridge mauled their way to a try that put their noses ahead 19-17 as the teams went into the break.
After a period of stalemate at the beginning of the second half Ivybridge extended their lead with a penalty before Winscombe once more edged in front with a try scored off the back of a driving maul by Aaron Thompson, Shepherded over the line by his dad Simon.
As the match moved into its last quarter the lead was to change hands a further five times as the two well matched teams fought desperately for an advantage. Ivybridge were firstly awarded a penalty try following a collapsed driving maul which was soon cancelled out by a Winscombe try for flanker Harley Walton, converted from wide out by Dearsley to put them two points in front.
Three further penalty kicks then saw the match sway one way, then another, with Ivybridge emerging victorious at the final whistle by a single point.
Winscombe entertain Okehampton at Longfield next weekend in what will be another tough encounter.
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