WIVELISCOMBE 2nd XV gained their fourth victory of the season in Counties Three Somerset South, moving up to ninth, when they beat Martock 29-21 at home, writes Roger Bellamy.

The game was played at Plain Pond with the pitch being in surprisingly good shape after the recent rain and was well contested between two evenly matched teams.

Martock were first on the scoreboard with back row forward Harry Paine finishing off a good phase of play by the visitors to dive over in the corner. Flyhalf Jake Lark added the conversion points.

The visitors, with their larger forwards and useful backs, tested Wivey’s defence throughout the game but to their credit the home side managed to cover Martock’s attacks with excellent tackling. Play continued to go from one end of the field to the other until Wivey’s promising Colt, Arthur Irvine, one of four Colts playing for the home team, showed excellent pace to cross for Wiveliscombe’s first try of the game. The conversion was missed to give Martock a 7-5 lead at halftime.

Wiveliscombe started the second half strongly and scored their second try through promising scrum half Rhys Hellings Langdon, another Colt on show. Flyhalf Cameron Palk added the conversion.

Prop Dan Strong crossed for Wivey’s third try to give Wivey a ten point lead. Centre Jake Woodward found a hole in the visitors’ defence to cross for the home team’s bonus point try. Cameron Palk added his second conversion for a 24-7 lead.

Winger Tom Lally had several strong runs throughout the game and was rewarded with a try, Wiveys fifth to give them a 29pts 7pts lead.

Martock finished the game strongly with thier second row Joe Bennett, who had good game, crossing for two tries, Jake Lark converted both. .

Wiveliscombe’s Western Counties League match away to Penryn was postponed for the second week running.