Topsham 12 Torquay Athletic Extras 37

 

Mitchell Ocholla and George York made their club debuts.

 

This was a game that we took 35 minutes to get involved in. The first 20 minutes we struggled in most facets of play. Attacking options were greatly restricted as we failed to secure any decent first phase ball and when we did so errors were made. Defensively we never got organised and allowed Torquay far too much freedom from set play and we also defended poorly from breakdowns. This resulted in us being 26 – 0 down before we came back into the game in the last 5 minutes of the first half.

 

There had been a couple of glimpses that we could do something if we secured enough decent ball and just before half time a good passage of play saw Dave Court cross. George York was unable to convert.

 

Changes at half time saw Terence Byrne come on at scrum half and Lister Bird at centre. Lee Western started a senior match in his new position as a prop forward for the first time.

 

The second half was a great improvement. We were still having difficulty obtaining good lineball, but the scrummage and loose play was better and defence was more aggressive. The forwards came into the game more and started to drive the opposition back. A couple of chances were wasted but eventually after another good drive from the forwards, Terence Byrne crossed near the posts and George York converted.