WIVELISCOMBE maintained their eight-point lead at the top of Western Counties West with a 42-13 home win over ninth-placed Torquay Athletic, writes Roger Bellamy.

Wiveliscombe, who took the opportunity to field several of their Somerset Colts, were always in front in this bonus-point victory but the visitors had opportunities in the first half to score tries but their handling let them down at crucial moments.

Wiveliscombe’s defence was solid with good tackling against the large visitors forwards and attacks wide out.

The home team’s pack especially put pressure on the visiting teams scrums allowing them to attack deep into Torquay’s territory. Olly standbury, making his debut at flyhalf for Wiveliscombe, opened the scoring with a early penalty but Torquay’s right wing Billy Whalley put his team ahead, finishing a good move by the visitors threes.

Wiveliscombe increased the pressure to score another three tries before halftime. Their excellent scrum half Richard Baker crossed to score two well taken tries after pressure near the visitors tryline. Winger Jack Lee scored the third on his debut for the 1st XV. Standbury added one conversion. Torquay added a penalty through full back Mawgan Penrice to complete the first half scoring.

Playing up the slope in the second half Wiveliscombe increased their lead with a second try from Lee with Standbury adding his second conversion.

Torquay closed the gap soon after with Whalley crossing for his second try.

Wiveliscombe finished strongly, scoring three more tries in the last quarter. Winger Dan Rottenbury added Wiveliscombe’s fifth try with debutant Arthur Irvine, one of three Colts playing their first game for the 1st XV, adding two more tries, showing good pace along the top touch line to score in the clubhouse corner.

Fixtures, Dec 20: Wiveliscombe v Barnstaple 2nds (away) League; Wiveliscombe 2nds v Weston Super Mare 2nds (home) League.