Barum beat leaders in dramatic clash

Barnstaple Chiefs bounced back from their agonising 38-39 defeat at Brixham to pip Tribute South West Regional One leaders Chew Valley 20-19 in yet another frantic finish at Pottington Road.

Barum had to survive a determined assault by the visitors, even though Chew had to play the closing stages with only 13 players.

But the Chiefs held on, and the result helped to deliver another shake-up to an increasingly open promotion race. The try scorers for Barum were Jonathon Kelly and a penalty try. Tyler Gordon-Oke kicked the extras.  

Devonport Services are the new leaders after their expected win at St Austell (60-5).

But Brixham are well in contention after they thumped lowly Weston-super-Mare 58-12 in Somerset, their fourth win on the trot.

The table now reads: Services 50, Barnstaple 50, Chew Valley 48, Brixham 42. Barnstaple have played a game more than the rest.

Okehampton must still be kicking themselves for a 21-22 home defeat by Exmouth which extended a winless run against the Cockles to 23 years.

The Okes, who led 15-8 at half-time through tries by Tom McGrattan and Saul Holliday, were also 21-14 up deep into the second half.

But injuries which forced off forwards McGrattan, Holliday and Brad Curtis hit them hard.

Exmouth fought back to take the lead, only for Luke Simmonds, who’d kicked eleven points earlier, to miss a game-winning penalty in the dying seconds.

After the last round of matches before the mid-season break, Sidmouth still lead a competitive Regional Two Division after a 34-20 win at Teignmouth.

Topsham stalled North Petherton’s recent surge with a 61-7 win at the Bonfire Field, Crediton beat Burnham-on-Sea 45-3 away and Wadebridge Camels saw off Cullompton 33-14 in Cornwall. Sidmouth have 57pts, from Topsham and Crediton on 51 and Camels 49.

There’s no stopping Tiverton in Counties One Western West. Tivvy reeled off their eighth successive win, 19-5 against promotion rivals Kingsbridge at Bolham Road.

Matt Elliott, George Whiting and Mike Butt all crossed for tries in the first half, with conversions from Ben Bingham.

There may have been no scoring in the second half, but Tivvy had to mount some stout defence, which should stand them in good stead later in the season.