Withy's Double Delight Against Dartmouth

Withies overturn a half time deficit to win in the league and cup double. 

Withies overturn a half time deficit to win in the league and cup double. 

Withy continued their season recovery this weekend with a hard-fought win in a closely matched game against Dartmouth at Raleigh Park. The game, which was not only a replay of the abandoned opening league fixture of the season but was also the quarter final of this season’s Devon Junior Cup.

Playing up the slope in the first half, Withy got the game underway. The opening exchanges were pretty evenly matched; however, Withycombe were slowly building the pressure and after five minutes had a chance of three points with a kick at goal. With the ball cruelly hitting the uprights, play continued, allowing Dartmouth to clear their lines. 

Before long, Withy were back inside the Dartmouth 22’, but as they worked through the phases, they came up across a defiant red and green wall and were unable to break the visiting defence, before eventually being turned over. 

The close nature of the two sides showed as they traded possession within the central confines of the pitch. In fact, it would be almost thirty minutes before the deadlock was broken. Following a second period of pressure inside the Dartmouth red zone, Withies found their away across the whitewash with Lee Jackson finishing off some great multi-phase play. 

Dartmouth responded to the try with some pressure of their own and were playing freely inside the home side’s 22’. With a penalty advantage to their name, they themselves started working through the phases and had appeared to have scored a try of their own just five minutes later, however with a Withy hand under the ball to deny the score, they went back for the penalty. It was a case of second time lucky though for the South Devon side as they got the try next to the posts. With the close-range conversion attempt colliding with the uprights, the scores were tied at 5 points apiece. 

The score remained unchanged until the final kick of the half when, with the clock into the red, the visitors were awarded a penalty in front of the posts on the edge of the 22’. The kick was taken well and the teams swapped ends with Dartmouth holding a slight 5-8 lead. 

Dartmouth’s lead was extended by another three points just four minutes into the second half as a string of penalties against Withy concluded with another shot at goal. 

The lead wasn’t to last long though, as the home side fought their way back into the battle and soon found themselves inside the visitors’ 22’. An error at the lineout saw an overthrown ball land in the hands of Withy Player-Coach Adam Clayton who made a charge for the try line, bringing a couple of defenders with him. Tom Cooke’s tough conversion sailed through the posts and Withy took back the lead at 12-11. 

With the game approaching the hour mark and both sides matching each other in vast areas of the game, it became important to make the most of any chance that presented itself. So naturally, when the chance of three points were on offer in a kickable position, Cooke welcomed them with open arms – and a kicking tee – and duly slotted the kick to give Withy a 4-point lead. 

Close games like this one aren’t without their moments of tension, and for Withy this was ever present in the final ten minutes of the game. With the ball spending large amounts of time inside their own half, Withy battled hard to keep a persistent Dartmouth from progressing too far. A defiant defence forced the error from the boys in red and green and were finally able to clear their lines and reduce the pressure. With the ball now at halfway and with a penalty awarded, the ball was taken quickly and kicked into touch. 

The final score, Withycombe 15, Dartmouth 11.

Not only did Withy pick up a vital 4 points to move up to 8^th in the table, they also booked themselves a spot in the semi-final of the Devon Junior Cup where they will play either OPM or Plymouth Argaum in February.

The thoughts of the cup can be put aside for now as the boys will look to continue building something in the league when they prepare for a certain derby day fixture against Exmouth Quins next Saturday at the Imperial Recreation Ground.