2nd XV result archive
Totnes 2nd XV 56 – 12 New Cross 2nd XV
Saturday 7th November
Totnes Quins found themselves with a full squad of 22 players for this home friendly against local rivals New Cross. Having had some success the previous week in the Merit League, Totnes Coach Bunny Williams wanted his side to keep the momentum going, and build upon recent successes to help galvanise what is coming a very handy looking team.
With a gusting south westerly breeze and a forecast of rain, the Totnes side took the game by the scruff of the neck form the outset, with Terry Hambling making an immediate impression with some bullocking runs down the centre of the park. Some solid work from the pack, lead by Captain Simon Osborn ensured that the Totnes side secured quick clean ball, for scrum half George to keep his backs continually on the front foot. Unsurprisingly it was Hambling who was first to score following a good break from Paddy Townsend in the second row.
The score board continued to tick over with No 8. Steve Bungy showing strength and a wise old head to score a couple of tries from short range, and an audacious drop goal from in front of the posts, with further scores coming from Hambling and Townsend to give Totnes a healthy half time lead.
With 22 players to choose from, half time brought about wholesale changes, and unsurprisingly this disrupted the Totnes rhythm and allowed the visitors to start to impose themselves at the ruck and set piece. This sudden turn of events allowed the New Cross side to score two well taken tries before the Totnes side could pull themselves back together.
As the second half wore on Totnes once again started to get back some possession and throw the ball around, with new comer Browse always looking threatening from fullback, and Hambling continuing to be a nuisance in the midfield.
After a couple of scores from Browse and Ampstead, it was left to Hambling to put the icing on the cake with his third try of the game, and secure the Quins a solid victory. Next week Totnes 2nd XV are away in the Merit table League to Devonport High School Old Boys, with a 2.30pm kick off.
Match Report, Saturday 10th October 2009
Salcombe 0 - 17 Totnes 2nd XV
This weekend saw Totnes Quins make the short trip to local rivals Salcombe for a Merit Table League game. Although the weather forecast was poor the rain held off and the sun shone over the Camperdown Road pitch.
Totnes had to make some late positional changes just before kick off which saw veteran Paddy Townsend volunteer himself to move up into the front row to partners Shane Mason at hooker and Wayne Collings, this allowed Captain Simon Osborn and Luke Parsons fill the second row berths. The back row consisted of two converted wingers, Johnnie Gledhill and Terry Hamblin, with Bungy taking up his normal No. 8 role.
Ex 1st XV skipper stood in at fly half with Jamie Ampstead playing in his best position at inside centre, young Jamie Mitchelmore played on one wing with Jake Orchard filling in the left wing berth.
Right from the kick-off Totnes showed some aggressive flowing rugby and only some solid defensive tackling kept the visitors from scoring early. Relentless pressure kept the Salcombe forwards firmly on the back foot, with Bungy, and Johnnie Gledhill proving to be a thorn in the opposition side.
The dead lock was broken after 20 minutes when Hooper looped around the blind side of a ruck to exploit a gap in the Salcombe defence, touching down in the corner, from where he successfully converted his own score. Unfortunately Shane Mason then had to leave the field due to a shoulder injury, which gave young Callum Entiknap the opportunity to play some senior rugby
From the restart Totnes again were able to secure possession and camped in the Salcombe 22, but diligent defence continued to keep the Totnes side at bay. Just before half time following a string of attacks through the Totnes backs, flanker Hamblin burst through the defence to score another well earned try for Totnes. This time Hooper was unable to convert, so Totnes went in at half time with a 12 point to nil lead.
The second half saw Salcombe playing with the slop and wind, but they still struggles to break through the Totnes defence, although they certainly were beginning to secure a bit more ball through their forwards. Both sides started to go to their bench for some fresh legs, with Totnes bringing on their Coach Gareth Harries and Manager Darrin Orchard to beef up the pack. This seemed to do the trick, and Soon Captain Osborn snaffled up a loose ball from a Salcombe lineout and charged over the try line to push the game beyond Salcombes reach. Unfortunately for Hooper his kicking skills deserted him as he missed a conversion attempt for in front of the posts.
At the final whistle the score remained at 17 pints to nil, and Coach Harries complimented the young Salcombe side for the tenacity they had shown through out the contest. Harries also praised the Totnes side, who had players ranging from 18 to 49 in their ranks, and commented that next time he played it would be in proper studded boots rather than the moulded sole pair he had worn on the day.
Next week the 2nd XV are playing in a friendly contest up at Withycombe, whilst the 1st XV restart their league campaign with a home fixture against Wessex on Borough Park with a 3pm kick –off.
Match Report Saturday 12th September 2009
Totnes 2nd XV Brixham III XV(H)
Totnes 2nd XV 12 – 35 Brixham III XV
A tale of two halves for the Totnes Quins
Totnes Quins faced a far sterner test this weekend when they hosted Brixham III’s on Borough Park. Billed as the warm up game before the Chiefs took to the park fro their Devon League one match, the Totnes 2nd string certainly put on a fine show.
In sweltering conditions, Coach Bun Williams put his strongest XV on the field with three reserves in the wings, Brixham however had bought over a squad of 23 players, all of whom were eager to get some rugby under their belts, so it was agreed that the Brixham side could use all their replacements to ensure everyone got some valuable game time.
Right from the off Totnes showed how much they have improved from a year ago, and they ran the ball strongly at the visitors and recycled the ball well, always looking to catch the bigger Brixham side off guard. The Totnes forwards undaunted bytheir formidable opposition took the ball forward, and produced some good rolling mauls and if the ball went to ground were able to ruck over producing clean quick ball for the backs to utilise. It was from a prolonged attack that ate into the visitors’ territory that Ollie Tregelles burst into the line from fullback to slice open the Brixham defence and score near the uprights, leaving himself an easy conversion to give Totnes a 7 point lead.
Brixham came back strongly from the restart and bombarded the Totnes line, but resolute defence and some outstanding tackling from the like of Tregelles, Matt Bennett, and Dan Grierson-Jackson kept the Fisherman away from the line. The first team players who were watching before their game started certainly had some great entertainment. It was Totnes who again took advantage of some of their fleet footed backs to advance play up into the Brixham half, and following some good work on the floor from the forwards |Johnnie Gledhill, a newly converted back row forward used his pace to force himself over the try line for a well deserved score. Unfortunately or Totnes they were unable to convert for the extra two points.
Once again Brixham got the bit between their teeth and with the slope and wind in their favour they managed to squeeze a try in at the corner right on the referees half time whistle, but Totnes must have been pleased going in with a 12 points to 5 lead.
The second half saw Brixham make multiple changes to their line up, and the side that took to the pitch started playing with skill pace and strength, and it wasn’t long before Totnes their line breached for a couple of Tries. Coach Williams made some tactical substitutions, which helped stem the tide, but as the game wore on Brixham showed how resilient they were and continued to apply pressure at every phase of the game. Totnes tackled like Trojans and manfully stood up to onslaught provided by a mature cohesive Fisherman side. Although Totnes were unable to add to their tally they never gave up, and had a handful of opportunities, but were held at bay by the Brixham side. With a few minutes left to play Brixham started to fling the ball about, and scored a couple of late tries to put some distance between the two sides.
Speaking after the game Bun Williams said ‘Totnes have really stepped up a gear this season, I can see it in their fitness, tackling, enthusiasm, and heart, I am sure that if we continue to play strong sides like Brixham, we can only get better and be challenging at the top of the merit table at the end of the season’.
