COUNTIES 2 TRIBUTE DEVON

Honiton RFC 63 Dartmouth 5

DARTMOUTH RFC were on the receiving end of a 63-5 hiding when they visited second-placed Honiton in Devon One.

The Ton were eight points up in as many minutes thanks to a Ben Phillips try and a penalty from the same player.

Dartmouth pressed hard for a score and were rewarded when No.8 Kyle Caunter scored from a line-out after a penalty had been punted into the corner.

When Dartmouth went down to 13 men due to sin-binnings for Dan Greeno and Tom Williams, Honiton cashed in.

During the 10 minutes before half time there were tries for Matt Bailey, Jack Madge and both Rice brothers. Philips took the score to 37-5 with kicks.

Dartmouth perked-up after half time. Solid ball retention and strong carries, as well as good kick chases, meant much of the play was in midfield.

The deadlock was broken by a catch-drive try for Honiton’s Robert Price that Phillips converted.

After that, only a high penalty count prevented Honiton really running away with the game. Yellow cards for Madge and David Jenkins also slowed them up.

In the time left there were tries for Jenkins, Alfie Lang and Ollie Rice. Phillips carried on kicking.

Dartmouth, who have dropped down to third from bottom in Devon, will be aiming to avoid a fifth straight defeat when Old Plymothians visit Norton Field this Saturday.