Barnstaple Rugby Team News for 5th November 22

Here is a selection of shots from the Bucc’s game last weekend to see the full set  click here Bucc’s v Bideford Bob’s Set and for Derek’s photos click  Derek’s Set

Welcome everyone to another Mighty Barum Blog and what a great weekend it was last Saturday with a hat-trick of wins, a definite treat on trick-a-treat season. This weekend is another Saturday and another story to tell as the Chiefs are at home to face an impressive Leicester Lions, currently top of the table following their home win against Clifton 27-14. Athletic having forgotten what home soil feels like are again on the road, this time to face their toughest challenge as they visit league leaders Tavistock and the Bucc’s are off on the Link Road for a date with Tiverton Athletic. As for the Colts, their competitive season restarts as the group stages for the Devon Colts merit Shield competition gets underway next weekend with a trip to Topsham, however a warm up is on the cards for them at Sidmouth.

Tomorrow night is the big North Devon fireworks display here at Pottington Road hosted as ever by the Barnstaple and District Round Table and as ever it will be packed here tomorrow night. 

Another event that has become a ritual now for this month is the Movember appeal where everyone suddenly decides they want to grow some facial hair, whatever floats your boat I suppose. Anyway, some of our Barnstaple rugby players have now succumbed to the call and are looking for donations and support, they will need it you know, from the Barum Faithful

On a serious note Movember supports some great causes including Prostate cancer, Testicular cancer as well as mental health and suicide prevention, so if you want to join in the fun or donate to our players who have already signed up then click the link below and get growing or donating, your choice.

https://movember.com/t/barnstaple-rfc?mc=1

What a fantastic weekend then for all the senior teams, but particularly so for Barnstaple Chiefs as they found their scoring habit just at the right time where they recorded their second win away from home with a 14-37 win over Bournville. Returning Bryn Jago kicked things off with a score in the opening five minutes, followed by tries from Brendan Darley and Dylan Gosling all converted by Jake Murphy to give the Chiefs a 0-24 lead at half time. Jake Murphy had a 100% kicking record in this game also converting three penalties whilst Tyler Gordon-Oke scored the bonus point try and successfully converted his own try. This immediately jumped the Chiefs off the bottom of the table to 11th place and some welcomed relief as they have now scored 10 points on the road this season.

Visiting Leicester Lions however will be a different kettle of fish for the Chiefs to face as their impressive record bears out. Currently top of the table following their win at home against Clifton Leicester Lions have 7 wins and just the loss to Dings to blemish their record so far this season.  Following on from their 5th placed finish last season it looks like Leicester Lions means business this time around having seemingly strengthened an already successful team.

So the Chiefs have a tricky task on their hands this time around, although no more trickier than last season when these two meet for the very first time with the Lions just beating the Chiefs 14-17 in what was a suberb if somewhat tough contest whereby, particularly in the first half, the Lions dominated territory with only the excellent defence of the Chiefs stopping them running away with it and in a more evenly fought second half where the Chiefs just needed the luck of the bounce were ultimately denied by great defending on the part of the visitors. Today’s squad see’s six players from that game, here then is the Chiefs to face Leicester Lions

ATHLETIC, BUCC’S AND COLTS

That’s the Chiefs dealt with, now to Athletic who continue their impressive run on the road after beating Brixham 8-24 last weekend to catapult them to 4th place just 4 points behind 2nd place Honiton and 9 points behind the team they visit today, Tavistock. Yes, it’s 1st v 4th in a crucial game which if Athletic win it will put them firmly on the coattails of the leaders with a lot of home games on the horizon. Tavistock where until a fortnight ago were scoring a lot of points with 6 wins from 6 and very much undefeated, that was until they travelled to Withycombe in a tight game which saw the home side win 22-12. Last weekend redemption as a home win over Ivybridge 36-24 got them back into the scoring mood for today’s game

This will be Athletics biggest challenge of the season so far and one I’m sure they are relishing, especially with three consecutive wins under their belts. Should be a good game of rugby to watch. Next weekend they play their final extensive road trip fixture as Athletic venture to the dark side, Torquay to face their Athletic side and then their next game on the 26th November the lads will finally touch down on home soil to take on Devonport Services 2nd XV kick off will be 2pm for that one so don’t be late.

Here then is Athletics team to face Tavistock

So exciting times for Athletic and also for the Buccaneers who came through a tough game against Bideford winning 19-10. In a highly entertaining game of rugby the Bucc’s took a fairly evenly fought 1st half 12-10 with a Neil Giddy conversion separating the two teams. The second half saw the Bucc’s with much more possession and territory but a determined Bideford defence kept them at bay, that is until big H crashed over the line blitzing several would be tacklers to extend the lead that eventually won the game for the Bucc’s. This leaves them now 7 points clear at the top of the Devon Merit table NE on 22 points as they travel to Tiverton on the first of three road trips before returning to Pottington road on December 11th to face Exmouth Nomads which will be their last game of the year before the merit table restarts in the New Year. 

As for the Colts next week see’s them begin their campaign for the Devon Colts Merit Table Shield as they travel to Topsham before returning home to face Honiton Colts a fortnight later on November 26th. Today they visit Sidmouth to blow off some ring rust and iron out a few things before next week’s game. Here is the Colts squad to take on Sidmouth Colts