Sat 19 Oct 2019
Now on a run of six successive wins, since the opening day defeat at Lanner, this was by some distance Torquay Athletic's sternest test yet in securing a victory away from home.
This, despite Molton being in the bottom two of the League, with just one win so far – and that against basement occupiers Tavistock. The North Devon side were comfortable winners on their own patch last season, when they had dominated Torquay up front. However, in the close season they have lost a couple of influential players, including Dan Smith, a high scoring No. 8, who had notched a hat trick of tries in Molton's 30 – 8 home win in the second part of the 2018 / 19 season.
On this occasion they were not able to “bully” Tics' up front, despite what appeared to be a more weighty pack. In fact, Tics' probably came off best overall in the set scrums.
Torquay came away with the spoils largely because of a monumental defensive display. The lush grass pitch was extremely heavy underfoot, requiring warm -ups pre- match to be switched to another pitch down the road. The conditions probably favoured the home Team slightly more, especially in the second half, when, playing with the benefit of a slight end to end slope, they used the driving game of the forwards more and more.
They also restricted Tics to just one solitary visit to their 22' during that 40 final minutes of play and that came during the early part of ten minutes added time, although the difference between the sides was shown when Tics' came away with 3 points from that visit, despite being down to thirteen men at the time.
Without detracting from this win Torquay will know that they enjoyed a share of good fortune, for Molton must look to their own inaccuracies for not recording more than one try and a win, despite virtual second half domination of territory and possession.
In total Molton knocked the ball on when the try line was in reach twice at the end of the first half and four times in the second half (two such knock-ons being when they tried to stretch the Tics defence through the medium of well-directed cross kicks to the wingers). They put three from hand penalties dead, when trying to achieve the maximum field position for attacking lineouts and although their penalty count was something like half of Tics' significant total overall they fell foul of the Referee twice, when in potentially scoring positions.
Compared to the week before Tics' travelled without back rowers Shane Wakeham and top try scorer Lewis Harben – both nursing knocks from that game.
By way of compensation the influential Martin Harrison-Browne returned at no. 8. After just a couple of outings in the Extras Bertie Turner made his first Chiefs appearance of the season at No. 6 and considering his lack of game time put in an enormous shift of effective tackling and carrying.
Defence had been the backbone of Torquay's recent winning habit and when travelling left wing Ryan Hanauer was ruled out with a late bout of sickness in stepped Mark Williams, who was immediately involved, putting in a number of powerful tackles and providing a threat with good ball chase.
Although the match started in bright sunshine a couple of short heavy showers intervened and as the match wore on the ball became more difficult to hold on to.
Molton's kick off failed to go the required 10 metres and at the scrum back Tics' eight pushed their opponents back. However, Molton then attacked and in the 3rd minute Torquay backs went offside, allowing home No. 11 B. Smart to kick for 3- 0.
However, it was not long before Torquay opened their account with a cracking breakout try. An attempted Molton chip ahead was partially charged down and scrum half Gavin Blacoe went to ground to gather and then set off moving forward and right. He linked with off his wing Tom Drake, who ran infield and passed to Jake Bury as space opened up down the left. A shift on to Craig Withers on half way saw the hooker set off on a strong run towards the line and although he had Williams to use out wide on the left he managed to bump off the last would be tackler to dive over the line. From a wide out location Mawgan Penrice converted for 3 – 7 in the 15th minute.
Seven minutes later Molton went off their feet at a ruck and Penrice sent a straight penalty the required 40 metres between the posts for 3 – 10. Molton could not respond with a penalty of their own on 33 minutes, the kick going wide.
Then a break off the back of a solid Tics' scrum by Browne was carried on by Blacoe and Drake, again working in tandem right up to Molton's 5 metre line, where the home side infringed. Despite a slight juggle Tom Whitford took a good catch at the lineout and a drive to the try line ended with Turner getting the touch down. From wide out on the left Penrice's conversion kick was true for a 3 – 17 lead.
South Molton now came back to the attack, running back a clearing kick. Torquay were then pinged for not releasing the tackled man and it was the home Team's chance to set up an attacking lineout from short range. Tics' stopped the resulting maul, but at the cost of another penalty. However, the visitors then defended vigorously and a home knock on brought the half time whistle, still at 3 – 17.
Ben Spears came on for Williams on the left wing. Within a minute Tics' fell foul of the offside line once more as the penalty count against the visitors reached eight compared with just four against the home Club.
Both sides then made mistakes; Molton not being able to take advantage of good field position and plenty of possession and Torquay falling into a pattern of making less than effective clearing or box kicks – the majority of which were just run straight back by Molton, with some gusto.
Tics' were unable to break out as the penalty count continued to rise; but equally Molton were unable to take advantage, for the reasons explained in some detail, above.
Harvey Piper came on for Turner with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. When Tics' conceded a fourteenth penalty flanker George Helmore saw yellow as punishment under the totting up procedure of a number of technical infringements.
With six minutes of normal time remaining Molton gave themselves every chance of completing a comeback, bringing the score to 10 - 17 by dint of a converted try scored from close range through driving forward play.
Then, as the game extended into what would be ten minutes of added time another setback for Tics' as Spears was yellow carded for a tackle deemed high, when on a kick chase. Now down to thirteen on the park Torquay were really up against it, but against the odds worked their way up field and a Penrice penalty created an attacking lineout on the right.
The ball was moved to the wide left and Jonny Brown skirted around a last defender to touch down in the corner, only to be brought back for a foot in touch. However, Tics' were actually playing advantage so the play was brought back to a penalty in front of the posts, only 15 metres out. Such proved a formality for Penrice to kick and make it a one hundred per cent kicking success rate two weeks running.
Tics' conceded penalties twice more and on the second occasion Smart reduced the arrears to 13 – 20, with a straight penalty kick. Helmore was restored with five minutes of time still to play and travelling supporters biting nails down to the quick! Tics' managed to hold out. The last play of the game saw Molton forward drives progress to within a metre of the try line before a knock on judgement by Devon Referee Mr. Blackburn brought the final whistle.
In summary, the foregoing may make it appear that Molton handed Tics' the win. However, in the alternative it could justly be held that Tics' stout and never say die defence had put the home side out of their stride, just as had been the case in the vital Tics' win against Plymstock Albion Oaks a week earlier.
Whatever, this was another important win, which gives Tics' top League placing, albeit on points difference only from Plymstock.' There are now five Clubs separated by just three League points at the top, so the winning habit has to continue with such a tight situation.
The Players chose George Helmore as Man of the Match
A further encouraging aspect for Torquay is that the size of the squad continues to grow. Alex Brown is the latest to commit to playing again; his boots having gathered only a small amount of dust since his decision at the end of last season to finish playing. Here he travelled as reserve, but was able to step up to the bench when Hanauer became ill.
Hopefully these returning players feel that there “is something in the water” which encourages them to want to be a part of it. It is a long arduous season and the larger the squad the greater the options and cover for injuries, which will no doubt be part of the campaign.
Next up is a home match v winless Tavistock on the Rec. on 26th October, with a 3.00 pm KO. After that a welcome free weekend for First Team players.
An increasing number of supporters are making journeys away and this winning run could be given further impetus through increased support at home – not to mention the benefits of improved match day income.
TORQUAY TEAM:
15 – Mawgan Penrice, 14 – Mark Williams, 13 – Jonny Brown, 12 – Jack Keiller, 11 – Tom Drake, 10 – Jake Bury, 9 – Gavin Blacoe,
1 – Josh Castleton, 2 – Craig Withers, 3 – Adam Dart, 4 – Tom Whitford (Captain), 5 – Nathan Pring, 6 – Bertie Turner, 7 – George Helmore, 8 – Martin Harrison-Browne.
Replacements: Harvey Piper, Alex Brown and Ben Spears (all played)
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