By Frank Stormont
September 26 2006

Westcountry Warriors make easy work of the men in white as they run in eigth tries in their 46 5 defeat of the Royal Marines under floodligh.

Royal Marines 5
Warriors 46

Tim Mathias

Dean Avery

James Tichias

Ed King

Mike Lewis

Bryn Jenkins

Federico Genoud

Jake Childs

Andrew Swainson

Dan Hawkes

Joe Skinnard

Ross Allen

Nat Saumi

Darren Ritchie

Jon Fabian

Matt Slee

Darren Coles

Rob Boles

Graham Dawe

Tom Ireland

John Whitehead

Bench

With drizzle in the air the regular fixture kicked off in the failing light with floodlights on at 7pm. The Royal Marines were in a plain white strip with black numbers on their backs. Half the team were wearing 1930's style long shorts.

With a solid and exciting performance the Warriors came out winners with 8 tries to 1 with Rob Boles scoring a hat trick. The other 5 try scorers were Dean Avery, Federico Genoud, James Tichias, Joe Skinnard and Bryn Jenkins.

The Warriors had plenty of opportunities to practice their catch and drive and driving mauls and made most of them count. It was a good tempered match for the vast majority of the match with the ref, Chris White, only having to talk to players once or twice. Although John Whitehead was harshly sin binned in the last few minutes for playing on the ground when the Royal Marines were just yards from the Warriors line.

It only took 4 minutes for the first points to be scored with a catch and drive move when Dean Avery picked the ball up and dived over the line for a try. The first score came so quick that the support team had not even returned from the changing room with the kicking tee. Dan Hawkes had to take the conversion 7's style and drop kicked the conversion from close to the left touch line 0-7.

Just 9 minutes later and probably the 6th catch and drive took the boys in black over the line on the other side of the pitch.  This time the whole pack went over and the try was credited to Federico Genoud. The conversion kick, with a tee, was unsuccessful as was a penalty attempt a few minutes later.

James Tichias got the credit for the try in the 23 minute when the Warriors pack again crossed the line as a pack.

Joe Skinnard took the opportunity to score his second try this season, his first against Brixham a month ago to the day, when the ball was passed wide after an error in the Marines defence. Dan converted the try to bring the score to 0 - 24.

The Royal Marines' defence had not been good in the first half and on 30 minutes it looked as though they were going to gift Warriors another try. A 30 metre pass in their own 22 did not go to hand and then bounced towards the try line. Warriors' backs were not quick enough to catch up with the ball before it bounced over the dead ball line but were rewarded with a 5 metre scrum.

A driving maul went over on half time with what looked to some like a clean touch down, on the side of the maul, but this was not seen by the referee who indicated that the ball was held up and immediately blew for half time.

The Royal Marines started the second half with more determination keeping the ball more and with a more physical game. They took quick penalties when given the chance but could not complete the moves.

It took a full 21 minutes before the first score of the half when Warriors driving maul came towards the line and Rob Boles ran up the blind side taking the ball on the way to score the first of his three tries of the night. Converted by Dan.

Just a minute later John Reynolds run into the right corner for the Royal Marines only score of the match.

In the 14th minute of the second half Rob Boles ran in his second try of the match. Just a few minutes later when Jon Fabian broke through the defence he then passed to Bryn Jenkins to score in the right corner. A breakthrough by Andrew Swainson in the centre gave Rob the chance to complete his hat trick with just 5 minutes to go.

Federico Genoud started at number 7 but was replaced just before the end of the first half. Chairman of Rugby, Graham Dawe played well when he came on in the tenth minute of the second half and moved up to tight head prop when James Tichias came off shortly after.

Tim Mathias played well in free play and several times broke through the line but the support was not always there to take advantage of the opportunity.