Hat-trick of tries puts Brixham on back foot

Three tries in the space of four damaging first-half minutes was more than Brixham could claw back as they lost 22-39 at Devonport Services in the Tribute South West Regional One Division.
The Fishermen were hoping to follow up their rousing home win over previously unbeaten Chew Valley seven days before, and they made a promising start against old rivals Services at the Rectory Field.
Nathan Reeves went over to give them an early lead. But Services’ quickfire hat-trick and a further score saw them ahead 22-10 at half-time, and they went on to earn a deserved win.
On a day when Services scrum-half Dylan Daley had to be taken to hospital with a head injury and the hosts played much of the second half with 14 men, Brixham at least returned with a bonus point for tries by Matt Crosscombe, Hayden Lidstone and Joel Ashworth.
Launceston’s surprise first defeat, at home to Okehampton (15-20), helped Chew Valley to regain the leadership with a 61-6 rout of Weston-super-Mare. The top of the table reads: Chew 22, Launceston 20, Services 20, Barnstaple 19, with Brixham 14 in seventh place.
Teignmouth pulled off one of the shock results of the Regional Two season so far, turning on a clinical display of finishing to upset fast starters Topsham 33-14 at Bitton Park. But there was another worrying defeat for Newton Abbot, who lost 21-25 at Rackerhayes to Burnham-on-Sea – the visitors’ first win of the campaign.
The mood is increasingly upbeat at Queen’s Park where improving Paignton are up to seventh place in Counties One Western West after thumping Bideford 64-23. Dewald Stoop, Mike Sandercock (3), Gavin Van-Tonder, Liam Cleaver, Jack Carlisle, Jordan Hodge, Richard Champion and Henry Hoare all crossed for the rampant Cherries, with 14 more points from the boot of Brad McKee.
Kingsbridge are still going well in WW, a 38-23 home win over Penryn leaving them four points behind Plymstock Albion Oaks at the top of the table.
Clear in Counties Two Devon are Torquay Athletic, Alex Loewy (2) and Dan Williams among the tries in Plymouth as the Tics beat OPMs 29-12. Torquay now lead with 25pts, from Services 2nd XV 20, South Molton 19 and Barnstaple 2nds 18.
Other results: Cos Three SW – Brixham II 20 Tamar Saracens 26, Old Technicians 72 Totnes 0, Plympton Victoria 0 Dartmouth 26, Salcombe 24 Paignton II 22, Torquay Athletic II 54 Kingsbridge II O; NE – New Cross 7 Crediton II 48, Okehampton II 20 Teignmouth II 23.
This Saturday sees the season’s first weekend ‘break’, although there are a handful of games which are being played, including Tavistock 2nds v Paignton 2nds in Counties Three SW.