Early pressure by the visitors was rewarded with a penalty after seven minutes but Saltash came back with some good interchanges of play and Liall Honey went over for a try on the left after fourteen minutes. Play continued to be evenly balanced and as the Oaks pack wrestled for dominance they advanced to the home line and scored ten minutes later. As Saltash pressed the visiting defence the Oaks broke away from their own half down the left to extend their lead with a converted try soon afterwards (5-15). The Ashes fought back and finished the first half strongly but without adding any more points to show for their efforts.

A penalty two minutes into the second half in front of the posts put the Oaks further ahead but the Ashes immediately hit back and Will Morton was able to brush aside tackles to touch down on the right wing for scrum half Jack Pritchard to convert after 46 minutes. The exchanges continued to be even as Saltash battled to get back into the game and a penalty by Jack Pritchard after sixty six minutes reduced the Oaks lead to three points (15-18). The Oaks restored their six point advantage within a minute following another close range penalty.

With five minutes remaining hopes of an Ashes victory soared when constant pressure enabled Todd Crofts to dart through the Oaks defence to touch down under the posts and the successful kick by Jack Pritchard put Saltash into the lead (22-21). However, as the game drifted into added time the Oaks fast and dangerous side scored three tries (two converted) which took their score to forty points to dash any hopes of a home win. Not to be defeated without a fight Saltash came back again and Scott Williams got the final try of the game with again Jack Pritchard getting the extra points to take the score at the end to 29-40 for a deserved win for the Oaks as they had the extra edge through out the game.

Saltash again came very close to winning in the league after last season's promotion and need to to adjust to the faster pace, reduce the number of mistakes and hang onto their lead.

1. R.Simmons. 2. R.Walsh. 3. L.Honey. 4. J.Sutton. 5. T.Hoban. 6. L.Wells. 7. C.Knight. 8. L.Woolaway. 9. J.Pritchard. 10. B.Dover. 11. J.Moriarty(c). 12. T.Crofts. 13. G.Eatwell. 14. W.Morton. 15. L.Stuart. 16. A.Nicks. 17. S.Williams. !8. L.Thomson.

Rod Davies Press Officer

Saltash RFC.