SOUTH WEST ONE WEST

Avonmouth Old Boys 24, St Ives 10

DEPLETED St Ives staged a good fightback against their mid-table rivals but still slipped to a disappointing defeat.

They travelled to Bristol with nine backs ruled out by either injury or unavailability, and were forced to field hooker Dave Bramwell at centre, before he was forced off with an arm injury.

Head coach Ian Morgan also had to play himself at fly half, despite picking up a bit of a groin strain playing for Cornwall the previous weekend.

Jimmy Trezise, Josh Stevens, Henry Mander, Tom Nicholas, Rob and Aaron Rowe were among those unable to travel, while lock Andrew Skinner popped his rib cartilage in the previous week's game against Torquay Athletic.

"Avonmouth are a tough, resilient team up there, and we were 24-0 down with 20 minutes to go, and we could quite easily have folded. A lot of teams would have done," said Morgan. "But we dug in and scored two tries of our own, and were probably unlucky not to score two more.

"On the day, the better team won, they are a good side, and that is why they sit above us in the table."

However, Morgan is optimistic of having a near full complement of players to choose from for Saturday's attractive home game against Brixham (3pm), when the Hakes will be going all out to end the promotion hopes of the Fishermen, and their coach Dan Parkes.

"I owe Parksey one, for all the grief he has given me over the years, with him being Navy and me being RAF!" said Morgan.

Horrible

"They beat us up at their place in quite a tight game in horrible weather, which suited them.

"But, with the way we are playing at the moment, the dry ground is definitely suiting us, and our aim on Saturday is to go for a very fast, open game, and we will see what happens."

"It would be nice to stick the final nail in their coffin."

Avonmouth had moved into an 11-0 interval lead with tries by Sean Leadbeater and two Andy Taylor penalties, before he added two more after the break and also converted a try by Andy Russell.

However, St Ives finished the match on top with touchdowns by hooker Ben Taylor and winger Nick Hichens.

St Ives: Prisk, Baragwanath, McBride, Bramwell, Hichens, Morgan, Weston, Noott, Taylor, Williams, Jenkins, Humphries (capt), Samu, Rainey, Outram. Replacements: Trudgeon, Middlemiss, Paul.

Scorers:

Avonmouth: Tries: Leadbeater, Russell; Con: Taylor; Pens: Taylor (4).

St Ives: Tries: Taylor, Hichens.

CORNWALL & DEVON LEAGUE

Hayle 25, OPMs 8

HAYLE climbed a place to 10th spot in the table after winning a scrappy game against Old Plymothians and Mannameadians at the Memorial Park on Saturday.

But it was the visitors who posted the opening score with an unconverted try by No8 Matt Naylor after only four minutes.

The home side responded after 18 minutes with a penalty kicked by No8 Scott Powell. Two minutes later OPM's replied with a penalty from outside half Henry Matthews.

Hayle ramped up the pressure in the closing stages of the first half and were eventually rewarded when centre Adam Keverne bulldozed his way over for a try as the home side snatched a narrow 10-8 advantage at the break.

Hayle started the second half confidently and Powell kicked his second penalty on 50 minutes.

Lock Lee Hosking scored wide out for the Lions after 70 minutes and centre Rob Heath scored the best try of the match on full time, converted by Powell to record a welcome win.

● Hayle entertain Plymouth opposition again this Saturday when they travel to Plymstock Albion Oaks, while the 2nd XV make the short trip to play Camborne 3rds (both 3pm).

The club's next sponsors' day will be on Saturday March 27 when the Lions entertain Saltash, with the first and second teams both at home. The club look forward to seeing all their sponsors and welcome members and old boys alike. A buffet will be provided before the match.

● Hayle's annual Vets v Colts match will be played on Saturday April 3. Former players are welcome to bring their boots if they would like a game, or are welcome to watch from the sidelines.

● Youth rugby, page 72