Barnstaple away to Sidmouth chiefs in the Devon senior cup. Photo by Terry Ife ref ndg 9534-12-13TI

BARNSTAPLE breezed into the final of the Devon Senior Cup with a 41-12 win at Sidmouth.

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Sidmouth had hoped to do a bit better against a team hardly setting the world on fire in the next division up, but they were quickly given a rude awakening.

Barnstaple had a game plan – to strangle Sidmouth up front – and they deployed it from the start.

“Our plan was to impose our authority on the set pieces – and that’s precisely what we did,” said Barnstaple’s director of rugby Kevin Squire.

“I know some Sidmouth supporters were disappointed we did not show a bit more flair, but that was never on our agenda.

“It was not the conditions for throwing the ball around. We wanted to win a game of rugby and went about it in the most effective way.

“Now we can look forward to being in the final, although yet again it is away. Our last five finals have been away from home, but we seem to be getting used to it as we have won four of them.”

Barnstaple opened with a penalty try after 13 minutes when Sidmouth collapsed a push-over attempt and Luke Berry converted.

Skipper Winston James and wing man Rob Elliott crossed for two tries each, there were others from full back Will Topps and No 8 James Comber and two more conversions from Berry.

Barum will visit either Exmouth or Newton Abbot, who have to play their semi on Easter Saturday.

This Saturday sees Barnstaple on the road in National Three South West to Malvern.

Molton walk-over

BIDEFORD’S Devon Intermediate Cup date with Ivybridge last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. No replay date has been fixed yet.

It’s Tavistock away for Bideford this Saturday as they go in search of a win which could guarantee them a place in the promotion play-offs if fading chasers Torquay lose at Ivybridge.

South Molton were waved through in the Devon Junior Vase by Dartmouth, who pulled out of a trip to Unicorn Park.

Molton will face Salcombe in the semi-finals on a date to be arranged.

This Saturday sees South Molton head for New Cross as the Devon One play-off race hots up with a third-against-fourth tussle.

Torrington and Ilfracombe were without 1st XV matches last Saturday.

Torrington have a must-win game at Dartmouth in Devon One on Saturday as they battle to avoid a second successive relegation. Ilfracombe are at home to Plymouth Argaum.

Father and two sons

BIDEFORD Nomads travelled to meet Torrington Legends and enjoyed a mud bath afternoon lit up with some amazing handling and flowing rugby that defied the conditions.

Half time saw the teams all square at 3-3 with Shaun Woodhead slotting a fine penalty that cancelled an early opener by Bill Ellis from their hosts.

Torrington had the stronger set of replacements, bringing on five youngsters who made the difference. A purple patch at the beginning of the second period saw them touch down twice to take a commanding 17-3 lead and they finally ran out 22-3 winners.

Torrington tries came from debutant Ryan Dart, which Ellis converted before scoring himself and adding the conversion. Wing man Graham Dayment finished the game with a try in the corner.

While Nomads threatened the Torrington line on a number of occasions, they could not quite force themselves over the line.

Highlight for Torrington veteran Stu Ellis was being in the same side as his two sons, Bill and Liam, and a positive for Torrington’s poor season, by fielding such a youthful team, which should be the future of the club.