Hard Fought Win In North Devon

Following their cancelled fixture the week before, and the one league point deduction incurred, Topsham 2nd XV were keen to get their season back on track.

In front of them was the, always tough, visit to Bideford 3rd XV, who fielded their usual large pack of forwards and displayed their customary talents for ball-spoiling and pushing the limits of the laws of the game.

The game started reasonably buoyantly with both packs pretty much cancelling each other out and the midfield in stalemate until Bideford opened the soring with the conversion of a dubiously awarded penalty.

Topsham soon hit back however, after some good forwards phase play was finished off (and whole-heartedly celebrated) by centre Chris Jenkins who jinked his way to the line to score. this try was converted by Paul Ferris.

Topsham extended this lead minutes later when Max Reitmeyer crashed over from close range taking half the Bideford pack with him. Conversion missed.

In the second half Topsham defended solidly yet things simply would not click fully in attack with a host of spilled balls across the park until some good build up play involving several forwards, notably Kevin Ware and Ben Chappell was finished of by fly half Paul Ferris to further Topsham's advantage. Conversion missed.

This proved to be the final say in a game in which Topsham should have probably scored a lot more points yet Bideford never seriously threatened the try line.

Not a vintage performance from Topsham but a good away win nonetheless.

Man of the match is awarded to Ben Chappell for a typical Marines performance, full of energy and grit.