The first team game time line.
4 mins. Devonport Services try Aiden Taylor. 0~5
5 mins Devonport Services conversion, Richard Goldsby-West. 0~7
14 mins. Macclesfield try Samuel Adu. 5~7.
15 mins. Macclesfield conversion Harry Oliver. 7~7
28 mins. Macclesfield try Mason Winterburn. 12~7.
35 mins Devonport Services try Dan Goldstone. 12~12.
36 mins Devonport Services conversion. 12~14.
37 mins Macclesfield try Jamie Harrison. 17~14.
38. Macclesfield conversion Harry Oliver. 19~14.
40 mins. Devonport Services held up on the Macclesfield line
Half time.
44 mins. Macclesfield try Samuel Adu. 24~14.
45 mins Macclesfield conversion. Harry Oliver. 26~14.
49 mins Devonport Services try Aiden Taylor. 26~19.
50 mins Devonport Services conversion Dan Goldstone. 26~21.
55 mins Macclesfield try 31~21.
56 mins Macclesfield conversion 33~21.
60 mins Devonport Services try Aiden Taylor. 33~26.
61 mins Devonport Services conversion 33~28.
62 mins Yellow card Richard Goldsby-West
67 mins Macclesfield try Jamie Harrison.38~28.
68 mins Macclesfield conversion. Harry Oliver. 40~ 28.
75 mins Macclesfield try Jamie Harrison. 45~28.
76 mins Macclesfield conversion Harry Oliver. 47~28.
80 mins Devonport Services try Shaun Crawford 47~33.
81 mins Devonport Services Conversion. 47~35.
Full time.

Sounds like a great match with a bonus point and nearly a losing bonus point.

The 1st team.
1. Rikki Bentham.
2. Aiden Taylor.
3. Oli Symons.
4. Mike Hunt.
5. Andy Pond.
6. Liam Jarvis.
7. Bertie Fordham.
8. Matt Gregory (C).
9. Dan Goldstone.
10. Richard Goldby-West.
11. Tom Davies.
12. Shaun Crawford (C).
13. George Pooley.
14. Luke Stannard.
15. Billy Orchard.
16. James McFarlane.
17. Kyle Felton.
18. James Hocking.
19. Oli Lane.
20. Billy Sutton.

The Management.
Ben Russell.
Rikki Betham.

South Molton away.
Away to South Molton who lie bottom of the league whilst we are second.
A lovely sunny afternoon in North Devon. South Molton’s pitch has an obvious and even slope right down the pitch, so there is a definite advantage or disadvantage depending on how fit you are.
We started playing up the slope but for seven minutes or so were completely disjoined and allowed South Molton to score on six minutes.
We had kicked out of defence, and their full-back took it in their half and ran back at us, a couple of passes took them to our line but they knocked on, they stole the ball off us at the scrum and went down the blindside to score in the corner, the conversion was missed, 5~0 after seven minutes.
This was not in the script that we had written.
This stung our players and concentrated their minds because we started to play as a team that left South Molton rather on the back foot for most of the half.
On eleven minutes we won a penalty and went for the lineout, the throw missed the jumper but was taken by the next man who made ground towards the posts and then to Tyler Busfield who had to really drive his legs to get himself, ball and defenders over the line under the crossbar. Leighton Stark had an easy conversion.
5~7.
On twenty minutes our second try, they were attacking our line but lost the ball then went over the top trying to get it back, we kicked for a lineout took it and went for their line half dozen times before Laird Woodward went over. The Leighton Stark conversion attempt just fell short. 5~12.
I can’t remember which kick it was but the referee did it to both teams. Strangely, and I have never seen it before, but as Leighton and their kicker were going to take their kicks the referee, who was standing close to them, with ten seconds to go in their allowed kicking times started to count down out loud, ten, nine, eight and so on then blew when he got to zero and disallowed the kicks.
Five minutes later another try. A good run by Leighton Stark took us into their half then a long and accurate penalty kick by Tom West put us close to their line, Ethan Hilland took the ball and made good ground towards their posts then to Ethan Millard who crossed with two defenders trying to stop him. Surprisingly the Leighton Stark conversion missed. 5~17.
On the half hour the bonus point try by Cam Donkin after a run from just inside their half with a few handoffs on the way, the Leighton Stark conversion went over. 5~24.
Right on half time South Molton had a scrum that wheeled seriously and was reset, it wheeled again and they played the ball away to George Snell who dived in at the corner flag. The conversion missed, hit the trees behind and fell over the fence in a shower of autumn leaves. A yellow card to South Molton then a minute later the half time whistle.10~24.
They were slightly on top in the scrums but not enough to make a difference. The lineouts were going well for both teams.

With the slope now to our advantage the second half started. there was the feeling that we might run away with the game at this point.
Playing with fourteen men South Molton got well into our half after being awarded a number of penalties. but eventually lost the ball and Cam Donking zoomed off down the slope from close to our line and into their half, Ethan Hilland took it on and did well to cross by the corner flag and then get close to the posts for a try. The Leighton Stark conversion went over. 10~31.
Then Tyler Busfield was awarded a yellow card, it was without doubt that an offence had happened but the referee must have seen the wrong number and send off Tyler who was quite rightly not happy.
On twenty minutes another try to us, we stole their ball after a lineout to them in our twenty-two, made fast ground down the pitch with Laird Woodward for Josh Martin to end the move with a try. Leighton Stark converted. 10~38.
On twenty-two minutes we again stole their attacking ball and had a fast run down the far side clubhouse side touch line, with probably Owen Kerswell, Leighton Stark took in on and was heading towards the post, about twelve feet out he suddenly went down, maybe he lost his footing in a pothole, but was able to get the ball away to Laird Woodward who scored. The conversion went over but the referee and his stopwatch said Leighton took too long and disallowed it. 10~43.
South Molton were still playing a lively game and taking the ball to us.
On the half hour they were attacking our line and lost the ball forwards, we were going to kick out but the referee took the play back to the clubhouse side for something we had done earlier, they went for a lineout and took it, driving forwards the forwards went over for Matt Harrell to claim the score. 15~43.
Then close to the end a bonus point try to South Molton. They were attacking our line we were defending it, I was stood eight feet away on the deadball line behind where it was all going on. Suddenly the ball popped over our defender lying on the line, it looked like a ‘Lost forward’ moment with the ball sitting there over the try line, Ethan Hilland was there and picked it up and drove out. The referee blew and said the South Molton player had reached out to touch down.
I certainly don’t want to deny South Molton a bonus point, they had been playing well, particularly towards the end, and as we should, we go along with the referee's decision. 20~43.
From the restart the referee called the last play. I missed what happened as it was on the far side and I was not watching but I think after a short while the ball went into touch and the referee allowed a lineout, South Moulton played it towards our line assisted by a couple of penalties and eventually the forwards with Barnaby Newall the ball carrier scored. The conversion was again timed out by the referee.
With that, the game ended on 25~43.
An entertaining afternoon’s rugby from both teams, South Molton should be higher up the league than they are, they played well. It was just that our backs were much faster and our forwards were strong runners and we supported each other well.
Thanks to Mitch, Chloe and Bel for the medical cover.
Man-of-the Match. Cam Donkin.

2nd team against South Molton, away.
1. Yianni Costas.
2. Josh Martin.
3. Tyler Busfield.
4. Alex Thomas.
5. Cam Donkin.
6. Jay Warren.
7. Kayne Young.
8. Ethan Millard.
9. Dylan Harbour.
10. Tom West.
11. Owen Kerswell.
12. Leighton Stark.
13. Elliot Lupson.
14. Laird Whitford.
15. Olly Mytton.
16. Ethan Hilland.
17. Sean Harrison.
18. Will Addison.

The Management.
Dickie Duffield esq.
Steve Hilland.