Old Boys close to first win on their travels

By ANDREW JONES

Barnstaple 22

Old Red'fians 22

OLD Redcliffians avoided defeat on the road for the first time this season.

Tom Hargan's late try levelled the scores, but there was relief for Barnstaple when Ashley Groves missed the conversion from the touchline. Two key incidents denied Barnstaple a fifth home win. First, a red card for Kyle Speare, then an interception try gifted to Christian Gervais.

They had the better possession until the touch judge spotted Speare's knee making contact with an opponent's head at a ruck. Groves then kicked Redcliffians into a 3-0 lead, but Jordan Petherbridge scored and converted a try for Barum on the stroke of half-time.

He added a penalty early in the second half, but Redcliffians struck twice in two minutes, Ethan Doyle powering over from a scrum and Gervais running in from halfway after gobbling up a wayward pass by Gwyn Parks.

With yellow cards making it 13-a-side, Barnstaple cut the lead when Jarrard Hayler slammed the ball over the line for a well-deserved try.

And they were 22-17 up 12 minutes from time when Luke Berry dived on to Parks' chip into the left corner.

Parks converted, but it was not quite enough for Barnstaple as Redcliffians built pressure.

The extra man told, with a long pass putting Hargan in space to dive over wide on the left.