CORNWALL AND

DEVON LEAGUE

Plymstock Alb Oaks 20

The result of this Cornwall and Devon match was in doubt right up until the last

moments and it was the

Oaks who hung on for the League points.

Saltash started the better with the lion's share of territory and possession throughout the first quarter, but it was the Oaks who scored first through prop James Tichias, with a well-worked drive down the left-hand-side for the try and a 5-0 lead.

Almost straight from the kick-off, Saltash came back and, from a ruck on the 22, scrum-half Geoff Thompson scurried away to score under the posts and, with the conversion slotted by fly-half Ollie Rayner, they were 7-5 in front on the half-hour.

Again the visitors came back and, in the 35th-minute, a well-worked move again down the left saw wing Lee Colton put away to score and re-take the lead at 10-7.

The visitors extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, as a back-line move put right-wing Andrew Soper over for an un-converted try.

The Ashes clawed their way back into the game and, in the 55th-minute, narrowed the gap with a penalty from Rayner after an Oaks player was penalised for coming in at the side of the ruck.

However, in the 62nd-minute Soper was put over once more on the right for a try.

The last quarter saw Saltash trying everything to get back on the board as well as putting in some solid defence to keep the Plymouth side out, so it wasn't until the 78th-minute that they were on the scoreboard again.

Following a fine break down field, Rayner raced clear to score a fine try, which he converted himself to narrow the gap at 20-17.

From the subsequent kick-off Saltash retained possession, but could not make that crucial break as the Oaks hung on for the win.