WESTERN COUNTIES (WEST)

St Ives 15- 36 Wiveliscombe

WIVELISCOMBE RFC continued with their impressive start to the season when they made the long journey down to St Ives and came back with a six-try victory, a result that sees them climb up to third place in the league table, writes Richard Walsh.

The visitors were dominant throughout the game and created pressure on St Ives from the start but squandered a couple of early chances.

However, it was St Ives who kickstarted the scoring when they slotted home a penalty.

At the other end, Wivey continued to create pressure on the home defence and were eventually rewarded with tries from Rory Stone and Will Ellis, both of which were converted, making the half-time score 14-3.

The second half saw the Somerset side continue to turn the screw on St Ives and try and take the game away from them, which they did.

Wivey were well in the ascendancy with the pack being dominant in the scrum and the line out, which resulted in St Ives giving away a number of penalties. This enabled the visitors to create good attacking positions from which, Rory Stone, Will Ellis, Tom Stone and Will Thorne all scored tries.

Trailing 35-3, St Ives scored a couple of late runaway tries against the run of play to make the final total 35-12 and send the visitors back happy.

Tom Stone one of the try scorers said: “This was a good all-round performance from the team and it was a bit of a one-sided affair even though the scoreline suggests differently. If we had taken all of our opportunities we would have scored more tries, but this was another good win away from home. We are improving but there is still a way to go.”

On Saturday afternoon, Wivey First XV entertain Kingsbridge who are fifth in the league table, two points behind their hosts with three victories from their five fixtures to date.

Looking ahead Stone said:” Kingsbridge will provide a good test for us and will show just how far we have come this season, especially when you think back 12 months to where we were then.”

Saturday’s match is Past Players Day and the club would love to welcome any former members to come along and watch the game.

Pictured are the Wivey players on their travels to St Ives.

Back row from left to right: Mark Chatterton, Alex Westcott, Matt Ellis, Tim Greenway, Morgan Kimsey, Jack Thorne, Rory Stone, Sam Habberfield, Tom Caughey, Dan Quick, Tom Stone, Tom Lalley, Carmen Taylor, Rob Weaver.

Front row from left to right: Morgan Omerod, Will Thorne, Richard Baker, Simon Adams, Will Ellis, Josh Alford, Hugh Harris, Tom Pike, Dan Rottenbury.

Wivey First XV weren’t the only successful team at the club over the weekend because the Second XV beat their visitors Hornets Fourths by a massive 102- 5 on Saturday, then the following day, Wivey Ladies beat Cullompton Second XV 26-17.