WIVELISCOMBE secured their tenth rugby victory of the season when they beat Bideford 52-20 in Counties One Western West at The Rec.

The home side snapped up eight tries over Bideford who are now 12 points adrift at the bottom of the table with only two victories from their 19 games. Wivey remain in sixth position in the 12 team division.

Playing up the slope in the first half Wivey scored their first try within minutes of the start with influential fly half Tom Pearce opening up the visitors’ defence to score near the post, Full back Will Thorne converted for an 7-0 lead.

The North Devon side scored their first points of the game with a penalty from winger Harvey Bloodworth. Wiveliscombe’s second try was scored by winger Tom Pike after his fellow three quarters had created the space along the bottom touch line. Thorne added his second conversion for a 14-3 lead.

Wiveliscombe continued to play an expansive game whenever they could and were rewarded with their third try scored by centre Will Ruell who showed a good turn of pace, Will Thorne added his third conversion as the home side opened up a sizeable lead.

Bideford, however, had thier moments throughout the first half and were rewarded with a try from prop Richard Weston after a period of pressure near Wiveliscombe’s try line just before half time. The conversion was missed, making the half time scoreline 21-8 to Wivey.

Playing down the slope in the second half Wiveliscombe took a while to add to their score, probably because the visitors tightened their defence but the home team were patient and Bideford gave away a penalty try after trying to prevent the home team driving over for their fourth bonus point try.

Wiveliscombe’s fifth try, the first from their forwards, was scored by promising player Gage Hayman to give his team a 33-8 lead. Bideford always looked as though they could score more points and this they did with a second try from their front row with hooker Dean Holland touching down. Harvey Bloodworth added the conversion to make it 33-15.

Wiveliscombe’s scrum half Richard Baker has been quiet on the try scoring lately and it was great to see him go on one of his eye-catching runs to score his team’s sixth try. Bideford kept the gap to eighteen points with their third try from winger Harvey Bloodworth.

Wiveliscombe had good final fifteen minutes to the game, adding another two tries. Centre Oliver Luxton showed good strength to finish off another good threes move and number eight Dan Smyth-Moore broke to the blind side of a scrum in the top corner to score Wiveliscombe’s eighth try. Will Thorne added the two conversions for a final score of 52-20.

Wiveliscombe’s 2nd XV game at home to Yeovil 2nd XV in Counties Four Somerset South was cancelled as Yeovil could not field a team. It means Wiveliscombe go top of the table with a one-point lead over second-placed and title rivals Martock, both teams having played the same number of matches. Wivey and Martock play each other at Wiveliscombe on Saturday, March 22.

Fixtures this weekend, March 8: Wiveliscombe 1st XV v Redruth 2nd XV (home) League. 2.30 ko., Wiveliscombe 2nd XV v Burnham on Sea 2nd XV (away) League.