PLYMOUTH TITANS 58, NORTH DEVON RAIDERS 18
Saturday May 22nd at Stonehouse Creek, Plymouth

The North Devon Raiders faced a Plymouth Titans team that bore little resemblance to the side which had conceded 90 points the  previous week at Torquay, the home side being made of largely by the Exeter University Rugby League side and two Antipodean gap year students who had NRL Toyota Cup experience.

The Raiders on the other hand again struggled to raise a side, the bare thirteen facing a long day in the sweltering conditions at Stonehouse Creek.

Despite this, the Raiders acquitted themselves well and quickly fought back after going behind almost straight from the kick off. Aaron Rundle and Rich Pearce drove the ball up the middle before Will Topps released Tom Pearce down the left side to beat the full back and score in the corner and convert his own try.

Raiders continued to stick to their simple game plan, driving the ball up the middle before releasing the backs on the last tackle. However, the eagerness to force the play caused a turnover in the North Devon half and it was Titans turn to apply the pressure.

However, just as it seemed inevitable that Titans would score, Tom Pearce came up with an intercept on his own goal line and out sprinted the defence to score under the posts to give the Raiders a 12-6 lead.

This seemed to galvanise the Titans and they attacked with renewed vigour, getting their reward on the stroke of half time with an equalising try.

In the second half the heat began to take its toll on the visitors and titans scored several tries aided by their ability to introduce fresh players at opportune moments. The only reply Raiders could muster came after Tom and Rich Pearce along with Ross Goodwin earned some excellent field position. The try was a Topps solo effort as he cut back against the grain and broke several tackles to go over under the stick, Pearce adding then extras.

Raiders stuck to the task and defended doggedly but the efforts of the day and a strong Raiders finish, especially from their outstanding New Zealander Rupert Magale whose one handed reverse flick pass whilst being tackled by three Raiders defenders will long be remembered, saw four tries in four minutes to give a lopsided look to the scoreline.

RAIDERS;David Fewings, Tom Pearce, Shane Maddock, Jose Mateo Casanova, Nicolas Casanova, Matt Wallin, Aaron Rundle, Will Topps, Richard Pearce, Ross Goodwin, Keith Fillingham, 2 guests.
Tries: Topps, Tom Pearce 2
Goals: Tom Pearce 3