TROWBRIDGE TESTED BY BEST OPPONENTS SO FAR THIS SEASON

Once again Trowbridge added to its fixture list with this first meeting with their Devonshire opponents today. It turned out to be the strongest fixture to date, and the result was in doubt until the final minutes when the Doric Park side had to rally after being well ahead at 33-12 ten minutes into the second half and surviving a late comeback from the visitors bringing the deficit back to four points before a late try send the Devonshire opponents home with a solitary try bonus point.

Trowbridge fielded a side similar to the one that took on Royal Wootton Bassett with the exception of flanker Ryan Lech and wing Fin Morris who joined the replacements in this match. Trowbridge opened the scoring with a Rhys Redman try converted by Tom Weaver 3 minutes in but Sidmouth ring wing Cian Warren scored in the corner after 12 minutes for fly half Lewis Toze to convert and the scores were level at 7-7. Skipper Olly Bilton broke through to touchdown for Weaver to convert but Sidmouth flanker Cam Grainger replied with a try soon after. this time there was no conversion. But No 8 Kacey Pike increased the home side’s lead when he scored a try 5 minutes before the break and Trowbridge retired to the changing rooms with a 21-12 lead.

Trowbridge started well in the early part of the second half with tries from prop Jaden Ephgrave and centre Alex Murchison. Weaver added the extras to the second try and the score was 33-12, but at this point Sidmouth started to play some excellent open rugby. But they were assisted by a yellow card to Trowbridge full back Alex Kilbane which broke up a dangerous attack. Their excellent back row contributed to this progress and there were tries from full back Tom Mead and their man of the match hooker Nathan Tomkins. Toze converted one try and Grainger added another try to earn a try bonus point. This brought the scores to 33-29 and a match was on, but Trowbridge responded as they have on two or three occasions this season when their lead has been threatened. They dominated the final minutes to record a final try that denied the Devon visitors a losing bonus point when Redman crossed for a second try and Weaver kept Trowbridge out of sight with his conversion. The referee who had received some unnecessarily criticism blew the final whistle and the match was won. Trowbridge retained their place at the top of the league, but the news then came though that the second team had been trounced at Devizes, a sign that the reserve strength at the club has been stretched recently. There is no first team match next Saturday with their second team entertaining Dorchester, and the first team resume fixtures on the 14th November with their first ever non tour fixture in Cornwall at St Austell, who surprised Topsham with a 27-12 away win on Saturday.