Ashes beaten late on once again in Moorlands Lane thriller

IT WAS another case of deja vu for the Ashes on Saturday as for the second straight week they lost a classic at home, this time to visiting Paignton.

The Ashes made just one change from last week’s 33-30 reversal to St Ives as the unavailable Laurie Thomson was replaced at blindside-flanker by Charlie Knight.

On the bench, with summer signing Billy Garratt missing, Ryan Thomas came into the matchday 18 for his first team debut, while back Danny Snook was a welcome returnee having missed much of last season.

Paignton narrowly missed out on promotion last term and have started well again this year, and were ahead after just six minutes via Josh Gillard as Brad McKee added the extras.

Conditions were perfect for free-flowing rugby and the Ashes were on the board four minutes later via scrum-half Jack Pritchard’s penalty. They were soon 10-7 ahead on 12 minutes with a well-taken try from fly-half Billy Dover who gathered his own grubber kick to go over under the posts.

As was to be the case all afternoon, the lead continued to change hands as the Cherry and Whites responded with two unconverted tries in quick succession from Nyakallo Makate and Dewald Stoop to lead be up 17-10 up after 20 minutes.

Saltash were back in front on the half hour thanks to a Pritchard penalty and a conversion of a well-worked first try of the match for centre Andy Walsh.

Then, with nothing on, young wing Henry Taylor gathered a ball in his own half, then went off on a mazy run to beat a number of tackles and go under the posts for a sublime try, converted by Pritchard for a 27-17 lead at the break.

After the turnaround, Pritchard extended the lead with a penalty, before an easy try from Gillard closed the gap.

But once again Saltash were next on the scoreboard as flanker Charlie Knight charged down a kick to score a try for a 35-22 lead.

The visitors upped a gear and scored a converted try from Tom Osborn and a penalty try to nudge themselves in front by a point with 11 minutes remaining.

They extended their lead with a further converted try from Thomas Benson, before the home side, who lost number 8 Steve Hillman to a head injury in his 250th game, gave themselves a chance with a sublime try from Walsh, converted by Pritchard to make the score 36-25 in Paignton’s favour.

The Ashes, who visit Torquay Athletic on Saturday, had chances to take the win with some tough penalty attempts and decent field position, but couldn’t get over the line.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Saltash Seconds welcomed their Penzance and Newlyn counterparts in Counties Three Cornwall and lost a thrilling encounter which saw 65 points, by just one at 33-32.

Pete Britland, Ross Martin, Ryan Simmons and Jay Congdon all crossed for the hosts with Martin also slotting two conversions and a penalty.

SALTASH v Paignton: Ryan Cruickshanks; Henry Taylor, Andrew Walsh, Greg Eatwell, Jay Moriarty; Billy Dover, Jack Pritchard; Simon Nance, Fin Jones, Liall Honey; James Sutton, Thomas Hoban; Charlie Knight, Phil Eatwell (capt), Steve Hillman. Replacements: Ryan Thomas, Danny Snook, Harry Richardson.

Tries: Dover, Walsh (2), Taylor, Knight; Convs: Pritchard (4); Pens: Pritchard (3).

Ashes’ man-of-the-match: Greg Eatwell.