Captain colossus inspires Torrington victory

It has not always been plain sailing on the pitch for Torrington Rugby Club this season but Saturday’s 56-14 trouncing of Topsham 3rds was one of their brightest days in the Devon Merit NE Division.

Captain Ben Sawyer was the talismanic inspiration behind a superb team performance, as he ran in two tries and picked up the man of the match prize, taking his season tally to 30 points. The result was swift revenge for the home side, having gone down to a 33-24 defeat in the reverse fixture just a week earlier.

Torrington still have plenty of games to play in a hectic climax to the campaign and a great opportunity to push further into mid-table, especially with this latest triumph moving them to within eight points of Topsham with two games in hand.

In a division packed with North Devon clubs, Torrington travel to Exeter Engineers 2nds this weekend, followed by successive home games with Exmouth 3rds and Honiton 2nds, and then a local derby at Ilfracombe.

Barnstaple Buccaneers remain in the hunt for title glory after sweeping past South Molton 2nds 35-14 on Saturday, although full credit to the visitors for a spirited display, belying their position near the foot of the table.

The Buccaneers are 11 points behind leaders Crediton 3rds but they do have a game in hand, which makes this weekend’s clash between the top two in North Devon a pivotal fixture. Elsewhere in the division, Ilfracombe and Bideford Quins occupy third and fourth respectively.