Brilliant Brixham marching to the title

The equation is simple for Brixham RFC over the closing weeks of the season: keep securing bonus-point victories and the Fishermen will win a historic promotion from the Regional 1 Tribute SW Division.

Brixham travelled to mid-table Matson with a one-point lead over Barnstaple in second and Barum, as expected, did their job with a 29-10 triumph at Sidmouth.

The pressure was on for Brixham and they soon delivered the first try, scored by Jamie Hext and converted by Mitch Pinkus, but that was not the full picture of a tight opening half-hour, with Matson heaping on the pressure with a succession of close-range scrums.

Brixham had to defend in numbers and they were finally breached to make it 7-7. Thankfully, a Pinkus penalty gave the Fishermen a three-point advantage, followed by a converted try from Louie Drennan to provide some breathing space.

Two tries scored, two more needed for the crucial bonus point, and Nathan Reeves crossed to extend the lead to 22-7. Matson made the task easier with successive yellow cards and Drennan exploited the gaps to seal the four tries required to maintain their slender advantage over Barnstaple.

A superb score from Jason Capaldi added gloss to the victory, Matson crumbling under the pressure with a red card. Another Brixham penalty and a consolation try from Matson made the final score 39-12.

This weekend, Barnstaple host Royal Wootton Bassett and Brixham host Sidmouth. It won’t get any easier but the Fishermen are standing up to the pressure.

In the Counties 1 Tribute Western West Division, Paignton travelled to Kingsbridge and the two teams shared a superb spectacle of rugby that ended in a thrilling 36-36 draw.

Josh Gillard, Jack Carlisle, David Siddall (2), Dewald Stoop and a penalty try were the scorers for Paignton but the Cherries will feel it was an opportunity missed after leading 22-12 at the half-time break.

The result leaves Paignton third in the table and the Cherries have a game in hand on Barnstaple 2nds, who are four points above them, but leaders Pirates Amateurs appear to be too far ahead to catch.

Congratulations to Jonny Brown from Torquay Athletic, as he wrapped up 200 appearances for Tics in another dominant 74-10 victory at Plymouth Argaum. The Tics are miles clear in the table and Brown, who has scored 87 tries since joining from Brixham in 2010, will lead out the team at home to Devonport Services on Saturday.