The rain came at a good time for local rugby

Last Saturday’s torrential rain may have turned into pretty good timing for the Tribute South West Rugby League.
Exeter Chiefs’ ‘hybrid’ pitch at Sandy Park ensured business as usual there – and how they took advantage with that 43-0 rout of Sale.
But the weather must threatened at least some grass-roots fixtures in the SWL, which took its second seasonal break to coincide with half-term holidays.
Hostilities resume this weekend with the Regional One division looking increasingly like a question of who can catch Chew Valley.
The Avon side may be only two points clear of Launceston, and Brixham have beaten them at Astley Park, but they are looking ominously consistent and they should beat lowly Ivybridge at home.
Brixham (7th) have a key game at home to Launceston.
In a very open Regional Two, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth are both away, at Cullompton and Burnham-on-Sea respectively.
Paignton go to new Western West leaders Kingsbridge, while Torquay Athletic, whose unbeaten start ended at Barnstaple before the break, welcome South Molton to the Recreation Ground in the Devon division.
This Saturday’s league fixtures include: Reg One – Brixham v Launceston; Reg Two – Cullompton v Newton Abbot, Burnham-on-Sea v Teignmouth; Cos One WW – Kingsbridge v Paignton; Cos Two Devon – Torquay Athletic v South Molton; Cos Three SW – Dartmouth v Brixham II, Paignton II v Tamar Saracens, PAO II v Torquay Athletic II, Totnes v Kingsbridge II; NE – Newton Abbot II v Crediton II, Sidmouth II v New Cross, Teignmouth II v Exeter Athletic.