For their final league match of the season Teignmouth travelled to Dorset to face Sherborne, and the performance and result showed how much they have progressed since the two sides faced each other on the first day of the season.
Back in September Sherborne triumphed 43-41 in a try-fest at Bitton Park, and four games later the Teigns were still looking for their first win of the season. Now they find themselves in fifth place, although the rearranged Wellington versus Sidmouth game next week will determine whether they finish sixth or seventh.
This represents an excellent season following their promotion, and reflects a superb second half of the season in which they have won six of their last seven games. The improvement is partly due to being able to select a settled side since the new year, but is mainly down to the excellent work done by Head Coach Colin Stewart and his assistant Jack Bond on the training pitch.
Stewart has produced a pack which, although physically smaller than most of their opponents, has produced some magnificent performances in set pieces and has been disruptive in open play when not in possession, and destructive when with the ball in hand; Bond has developed an exciting style of play for the backs which is based on keeping the ball alive with quick passing and daring offloads, and on kicking accurately to put pressure on opponents.
While Stewart admitted after this game that the performance had not been without faults, it was clear that the improvements listed above were all on show as the Teigns ran out comfortable winners against a determined Dorset side with plenty to play for.
The first half was a close affair as Sherborne, looking to give themselves a chance to avoid relegation next week against Chard, took full advantage of a couple of lapses of concentration to keep themselves in the game. Dan Force opened the scoring on ten minutes, but Sherborne were soon on the board with a converted try from flanker Elliot Cuff.
Undeterred, the Teigns kept up their fluid back play and on 20 minutes were rewarded when Jordan Hellier scored for the fifth game running, before talented Sherborne scrum half Rhidian McGuire tied the scores. But in injury time Faolan Lidstone executed one of his trademark crossfield kicks and Alex Ford took advantage of a kind bounce to give the Teigns a 17-12 lead at the interval.
The second half was more one-sided, despite some spirited resistance from Sherborne. Leading scorer George Franklin notched his twelfth try of the season before Bond scored his tenth and eleventh either side of another McGuire score for the home side. Bond’s second try was particularly eye-catching as he picked up the ball well inside his own 22 before showing Sherborne’s defence a clean pair of heels and score after a run of almost 100 metres that would have done justice to many athletics sprinters.
At full time both Stewart and Bond applauded their side not only for the win, but also for their season as a whole. Stewart was particularly impressed with veteran prop George Mowson’s performance. For as long as I can remember Mowson has been committing himself at this time of the season to “just one more season”, and Stewart will be hoping that he’ll be trotting out those words again over the next few weeks. After all his wife and club physio Jess should be able to patch him up again for September if anyone can!
Now, as I’ve explained in several forums, there should be some Devon Intermediate Cup matches over the next few weeks, but yet another club, Tiverton, have decided that they’ve had enough rugby for the season and have withdrawn. So for the moment I’m not going to waste my time nor yours by writing about possible fixtures in March and April. Let’s hope there are some – but don’t hold your breath.
Meanwhile, I’ll be sending out a review of the league season next Friday, so keep your eyes on your inbox for that and any news on the Cup competition.

Scores and scorers:
10’ 0-5 T Dan Force 47’ 12-24 T George Franklin C Mayne
16’ 7-5 T Elliot Cuff C Marcus Heath 51’ 12-29 T Jack Bond
20’ 7-12 T Jordan Hellier C Jack Mayne 60’ 17-29 T McGuire
26’ 12-12 T Rhidian McGuire 80’+3’ 17-36 T Bond C Mayne
40’ 12-17 T Alex Ford

Line-up :
1. Duane Wilson 2. Pete Parsons (c) 3. George Mowson 4. Jack Henderson 5. Jack Bowen 6. Pete Bilham 7. George Franklin 8. Alex Ford 9. Dan Woolnough 10. Faolan Lidstone 11. Jack Bond 12. Jack Mayne 13. Jordan Hellier 14. Dan Force 15. Rio Cooper
BENCH 16. Jake Wright 17. Cam Johns 18. Dom Twine