Junior rugby round-up

UNDER-15s Liskeard-Looe...7 Ivybridge...34

IVYBRIDGE produced a superb all-round performance to claim their first win of 2013 against a determined and physical Liskeard-Looe side.

Having lost to Liskeard-Looe last season, Ivybridge were clearly motivated and went 5-0 up following a try by Tyler Davis after nine minutes.

Tackling and covering from both sides was exemplary, and this prevented the Ivybridge backs from gaining the sort of possession they normally enjoyed.

Leading the way in an outstanding team display were front-row forwards Ben Jarvis, Lloyd Vosper and Jamie English and the Bridgers increased their lead after 30 minutes with a try by Harry Lee, which was converted by Mitch Pinkus to make the half-time score 12-0.

Liskeard-Looe did manage to reduce the deficit within five minutes of the re-start, but Ivybridge stood firm against the home side's pressure and quickly regrouped.

Some neat handling from centres Lewis Barnaby and Angus West saw winger Joel Fellows go over in the corner to add another five points.

This was followed by another try from Lee, which made it 22-7.

The home side came close on several occasions, but good defensive work from Ivybridge flankers Henry Parker, Tom R-Jones and number eight Greg Thomas ensured the home side failed to capitalise.

Going into the last quarter Ivybridge found their rhythm and added two more tries through Vosper and Lee.

UNDER-14s DHSOB Stonehouse Sharks...58 Saltash...0

THE Sharks were desperate to get the new year underway with a win and they did so in emphatic style as they dominated in every aspect of this muddy encounter.

The first half proved to be a one-sided affair with scores from Lewis Hunt (2), Connor Waters, Marcus Woodruff, Jake Stanton and two conversions from the boot of Lewis Swatton.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with further scores from Swatton, Woodruff, Stanton (2) and two more conversions from Swatton.

Apart from dominating up front, the Shark's defence also ensured Saltash were constantly on the back foot and they were therefore unable to get any meaningful possession to set up attacks.

UNDER-13s Stonehouse Sharks...46 Brixham...12

SHARKS lent Brixham five players to enable this fixture to go ahead and for most of the first half, the visitors weaknesses were exposed by a rampant Sharks side.

Sharks attacked straight from the kick off, and good work from the pack set up the centres who charged down field as a line, and the move was finished off by lock Adam Brown and touched down by number eight Jerome Clench.

From the restart, the marauding Sharks pack won the ball, which was then sent wide by scrum-half and man of the match Rob Fice to centre Lewis Andrews, who raced in under the posts from halfway. Toby Moss converted.

Sharks kept up the pressure but gave away a number of penalties at crucial moments.

Despite this, Sharks centre Andrews picked up a Brixham knock-on to score his second try, and his third soon followed. Moss again converted.

The highlight of the half came when a thundering tackle by Brown floored Brixham's charging number eight. Scrum-half Fice then ended the half with a score of his own to make it 29-0.

Sharks replaced the five players they had lent Brixham with another five and it seemed to galvanise the visitors.

Their number eight in particular forced a number of good tackles out of the Sharks players, and after some intense pressure, Brixham breached the Sharks line for the first time. Sharks did strike back, with Pullinger scoring under the posts following a run from his own half. Moss converted.

Sean Brown, who Brixham borrowed from Sharks, popped up to score after another period of pressure. Brixham were now outscoring Sharks in the second half but the hosts capitalised on some mistakes to finish strongly. After a fumble by a Brixham centre on the edge of their 22, Andrews took advantage to pick up and score.

Pullinger then grabbed his second try, again running from inside his own half.

Plymstock Albion Oaks...15 Totnes....33

PLYMSTOCK Albion Oaks put in their best performance of the season, but could not prevent a defeat at the hands of Totnes.

Totnes are a strong team and have already beaten Ivybridge and Sharks.

Although Totnes scored the first try of the game with a strong run which beat the Oaks backs, Plymstock dominated the first half with flanker Reegan Spencer driving a try over the line on the left wing in the 15th minute.

A second try came for Oaks when prop Luke Dodimead powered his way through the Totnes forward line in the 23rd minute, which put the city side one try ahead at half-time.

Totnes came out strongly in the second half and levelled the scores five minutes in, but Oaks edged ahead again when centre Tom Gould scored after a magnificent run up the wing.

Totnes' superior speed and fitness eventually paid off as they ran in three tries in the final 10 minutes against a tiring Oaks side.

Despite the loss, this was definitely Oaks best performance of the season and the Totnes coach predicted some great wins for Plymstock if they continue to play this well.

The standard of tackling was high on both sides, with the tackle of the match going to scrum-half George Dunn for a try-saving effort just outside the Oaks 22.

UNDER-12s Kingsbridge...68 DHSOB Stonehouse Sharks...7

STONEHOUSE Sharks found Kingsbridge in hot form.

The home side raced out of the blocks and dominated the game from the start, scoring a converted try from the first kick-off.

Several missed tackles by Sharks players enabled Kingsbridge to run in a further three tries before the end of the first half. Although Sharks had some great scrums and rucks, they were unable to keep hold of the ball. They did manage to go over the try line twice but were held up both times.

The second half saw Kingsbridge score a further six tries with some good work put in by the Sharks forwards.

Tom Dolphin managed to score the only Sharks try following a penalty at a scrum. The try was converted by Owen Arcos.

Kingsbridge did give away quite a few penalties but Sharks were unable to make anything of them.

UNDER-11s Totnes...0 Plymstock Albion Oaks...56

OAKS' forwards and backs combined well as they powered to a 56-0 win against a spirited Totnes side.

Although conditions were muddy, Oaks were able to move the ball well throughout with some slick handling and passing, led by fly-half Will Varley.

Oaks opened the scoring after a strong run from Bond, and they continued to move the ball well through the backs, leading to three more tries from Varley, Bingham and Bonser.

Oaks made six changes at half time but their forwards continued to dominate and some more efficient handling from the backs led to four further tries from Ledger, Wilkinson, Varley and Hill, which were all converted. Credit must go to Totnes who still put in a spirited performance. Man of the match for Oaks went to Harvey Ledger and James Bingham.

UNDER-9s Kingsbridge...6 DHSOB Stonehouse Sharks...7 (Score in tries)

SPECTATORS were treated to a superb match between Kingsbridge and Stonehouse Sharks.

The game was played at pace and with vigour throughout.

The first half saw Sharks score two tries through Charlie Connely and Jacob Gaskin with Kingsbridge also scoring two of their own to leave the scores level at the interval.

Kingsbridge scored after the break but the Sharks hit back, with Ben Dolphin, Gaskin and man of the match Ethan Williams putting them in front. Their lead was short-lived as Kingsbridge scored twice in quick succession, but Sharks went ahead again with Williams and Gaskin scoring. Kingsbridge were playing catch-up and they piled the pressure on the Sharks, pulling another try back, but they couldn't complete the comeback and the match ended in a 7-6 victory for the Sharks.

Kingsbridge...5 DHSOB Stonehouse Sharks...4 (Score in tries)

A SECOND friendly fixture didn't quite go to plan for the Shark as Kingsbridge ran in three quick scores against a solitary score from James Ferriman just before half-time.

But Sharks didn't give up and they took the lead for the first time with a superb hat-trick from Jacob Gaskin.

However, Kingsbridge were not to be outdone this time and they fought back, snatching the game with another two tries.

UNDER-7s Totnes...11 Plymstock Albion Oaks...16

OAKS travelled to Totnes with a large squad after an extended break due to the recent bad weather and the festive season and they were rewarded with a fine opening win.

The pitch was still heavy and Oaks, captained by Josh Waters, started the game by playing up the slope.

Totnes started strongly, with the Oaks defence struggling to get the tags but the visitors were equally strong in attack with James Pullan and Jaimie Fewings scoring some early tries.

Totnes continued to defend well, taking full advantage of playing down the slope.

Taylor Goscher and George Partridge supported well, scoring a pair each.

It was the determination of the Oaks that kept them going in the first half and this allowed them to go in to the break with an 8-6 lead.

Oaks continued playing with confidence in the second half with Caiden Whitfield scoring a couple of tries with some strong running through the defence.

As the pitch got heavier, both teams began to tire.

Josh Waters picked up a loose ball and avoided the defence to score a try. Some accurate passing and better tagging allowed Oaks to win the game 16-11.

Totnes...13 Plymstock Albion Oaks...15

IN THE second match, it was obvious Dan Brookes had not forgotten how to score tries over Christmas as he managed to score a total of nine tries. Joe Street tagged strongly and also managed to get two tries.

Oaks supported each other and Paul Mears-Baldwin got in to some good positions to score a hat-trick of tries.

Totnes were strong, having gained in confidence from the first match and were proving tough opposition. Luca Sartori received a good pass to go over the line ensuring Oaks won 15-13.

JUNIOR match reports should be sent to sports@theplymouthherald.co.uk by 9am on a Tuesday morning. Reports should be no longer than 150 words long.