Tribute Devon Two
Dartmouth 25,
The score didn't really reflect the game and Dartmouth should have won at a canter.
Injuries and replacements from Dartmouth made the Buckfastleigh score look good. With 20 minutes to go Dartmouth were in command and looking good to nil Buckfast.
Skipper John Dingle took the initiative and bagged himself a hat-trick and man of the match to boot.
Jamie Kerney, Karl Caunter and Adam Sharam were close contenders for man of the match but Dingle's hat-trick and his ability to play, literally, left, right and centre sealed the decision.
Richard Lobb did himself a favour playing at fly-half, a position he would prefer not to play but will fill in at as and when.
Skipper John Dingle got his players pumped right up for this game and anyone who has encountered these two teams before would have expected a game of agricultural rugby.
However, Dartmouth played much the better rugby and Buckfastleigh found it hard to contain the home team.
It was Dingle who scored the first try with a charge down, Richard Lobb getting the extras from way out wide on the left wing. In the eighth minute Lobb was on the score sheet again, this time slotting over a penalty.
Dartmouth were 10 points to nil up and could play the way they wanted and the Buckfast defence had to be at their best to stop the onslaught from Dartmouth.
Time and time again Dartmouth recycled the ball but just couldn't penetrate the robust Bucks defence, so the score remained 10-0 at half time.
Dartmouth started the second half where they left off in the first, Richard Lobb getting a quick penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking.
John Dingle was on the score sheet again not long after the penalty with a quick try on the 15-minute mark. Shaun Lewis got the ball out from a scrum and Dingle handed off two helpless Buckfastleigh players and pushed his way over the whitewash for try number two.
Fly-half Lobb made sure of the extra points, taking the score to 20-0 and leaving it looking like a long afternoon for the visitors.
Then came the changes... and Buckfast scored within minutes, but missed the conversion.
Four minutes later Buckfast were awarded a penalty which they converted and things started to look a bit rosier for the Buckfast side, only for them to be thwarted by John Dingle, who got his third of the afternoon.
Dingle yet again didn't give up a lost cause, chasing down a kick from Richard Lobb, hassling the Buckfast full-back and charging down the ball to go over for his well-deserved hat-trick.
Just when Dartmouth thought it was all over, Buckfast got their second of the afternoon followed by a conversion and the full time whistle.
The match was sponsored by Tim Hailstone, who owns Castle Tea Rooms. Tim has been a staunch supporter for Dartmouth, both vocally and financially, for many years and DRFC are very grateful for his support.
Dartmouth have no game this weekend so coaches Chris Chater and Lee Chase have time to rest the players and get some much needed physio on some of the players that have niggling injuries.
Kerry-Ann Webb will have her work cut out trying to get the players back to full fitness and ready for the next match away at Tamar Saracens.
This will be a good test for Dartmouth because Sarries are second in Devon Two.