Darts aiming for improvement at Topsham

THINGS can only get better for Dartmouth away to Topsham in Devon One this Saturday after they were on the wrong end of a 100-point stuffing by South Molton.

Head coach Steve Atkins said there were no excuses for the size of the defeat, although he could offer some mitigating circumstances.

"Basically, we just ran out of players," said Atkins. "We only had one replacement at the start – and he was soon on.

"By the time we had taken a few injuries and one of the players had walked off, we only had 11 on the pitch."

Dartmouth are now resigned to relegation from Devon One. But they can expect no favours from Topsham, who are fighting hard to avoid going down with them.

TOTNES head for Torrington two points off the promotion places after beating Topsham 28-22 in a real ding-dong affair.

Jack Knowles opened the scoring with a penalty for the visitors before quick hands from the Totnes backs sent in Jamie Mitchelmore for the first try of the game.

Tops were back in front when Adam Buckley took advantage of a poor clearance kick to race in for a try.

Totnes responded with a push-over try from No.8 Dave Shinner, converted by George Palk to give the hosts a four-point lead at the break.

The home side started the second half with 13 unanswered points, first a penalty from Palk before Aaron Bartlett spotted a gap in the Topsham defence and darted through for a try and Shinner dived over to double his account.

The visitors ran a penalty and Nathan Bowley put Knowles in for a try.

Topsham duly ran in another try through Rupert Stanning.

A Palk penalty eased Totnes' nerves slightly but there was still time for Topsham to have a try disallowed at the death for a forward pass.

SALCOMBE are holding a past players' reunion this Saturday ahead of the home game against New Cross in Devon One.

The Crabs are 125 years old this season and the reunion is their first celebration event.

Organiser Mark Lidstone is hoping former players no longer living in Salcombe will get in touch about attending.

"The more the merrier," said Lidstone. "Just let me know you are coming so we can contact the caterers with the right numbers."

Call Lidstone on 01548 561854 if you would like to attend the pre-match buffet starting at 12.30pm.

Salcombe's game against University of Exeter last Saturday was abandoned before half time with the students 19-3 up as the referee pulled up with a knee injury.

NEW CROSS revived their promotion hopes with a 17-10 win over Plymstock.

The two sides were five minutes away from a scoreless first half before the home side worked a good try in the corner.

Having kicked a penalty to touch, Lewis Vickery scored in the corner, Ryan Wotton added the conversion.

Plymstock began to exert some dominance in the second half, but New Cross defended well and then broke out of their own 22 via Wotton, Nick Halse and then Wotton again who ran in from the half way line. But Plymstock scored a try from No.8 Rhys Currell which was converted by former Torquay United soccer player Dave Byng. Byng then added a long-range penalty to bring his side within two points.

The game was well and truly in the balance in the final minutes before New Cross broke down the blind side with Ali Wellbee running in from the half way line for a decisive try.

BUCKFASTLEIGH may be away to Plympton-Victoria in Devon Two this Saturday, but it's the Devon Junior Plate they are concentrating on now.

For last Saturday's 20-15 win over Plymouth Argaum in the league was played as a double-header to get a delayed Plate Semi-final out of the way.

Bucks now have to wait for the bottom half of the draw to be played out before knowing who they will face.

Dartmouth and South Molton have unfinished business in a quarter-final to determine who hosts DHSOB in the outstanding semi.

Bucks will be away in the final, which has been set down for April 27.

The Ramblers came out of the blocks faster with a well-worked backs' try on 15 minutes, by wing Carl Nelson. Harry Laity converted, then added a penalty.

There was little to report until the 50th minute when Laity converted a penalty.

The visitors came back into the game with an unconverted try on 61 minutes. The conversion was charged down by Greg Robinson.

The final few minutes were nail-biting after Argaum had gone 15-13 up.

Four minutes from time Robinson burst clear to score with Laity adding the extras.