Wiveliscombe beat Paignton in rugby thriller

Playing up the slope in the first half, Wiveliscombe hit the visitors with two tries in the first ten minutes, Full back George Rowe showed his usual ball skills to break the visitors’ defence to give Wivey the lead. He added the conversion to for a 7-0 lead.

Centre Will Thorne scored Wivey’s second try after a well-constructed move by the home threes, Rowe slotted his second conversion. 

Paignton began to put together some useful phases of play, especially through their forwards who began to secure some decent possession in second phase play. The Paignton threes looked menacing and crossed for two tries through full-back George Palk and South African scrum half Dewald Stoop. Thankfully, two penalties from George Rowe gave Wivey a 20-10 lead at the break.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Wivey were looking to increase the pressure but this never materialised and the home team began to give away numerous penalties at the breakdown and ended up receiving a yellow card.

Hooker Jed East was on the end of a good drive by the visiting forwards to score his team’s third try, Flyhalf David Siddal added the conversion. 20-17. Wiveliscombes supporters were beginning to fear the worst and their team was under a lot of pressure.

A try from Wivey’s Captain Frank Norman, finishing off a good driving maul, gave the home team an eight-point cushion, meaning the visitors had to score twice to take the lead. Paignton continued to create chances and a second try from fullback George Palk converted by David Siddal gave his team a chance late in the game, 25-24. 

Wiveliscombe were hanging on with minutes to go and Paignton were awarded a penalty in the home twenty two. They turned down the kick at goal and opted to kick for the line-out, which Wiveliscombe defended successfully as the final whistle blew. 

On Saturday, Wiveliscombe host Bideford in the league.