BRIXHAM RUGBY CLUB

MATCH REPORTS 2009/10

Team Contacts

6th March 2010 Crusaders 20 Paignton Reserves 19
Two tries by Ben Cotton and one from Tim Bumby with a conversion and penalty by Hank Hendricksen were enough for Brixham to scrape home.
(The table above does not include this or any other of today's matches)

20th Feb 2010 Newton Abbot Res 5 Crusaders 22
Brixham took the lead through a Hank Hendricksen penalty goal but a Newton try gave them a 5-3 interval lead. Winger James Nash put Brixham ahead midway through the second period; his try being converted by Hendricksen. Two more tries in the last ten minutes from Jack Clark and Joe Clark, the second converted by Matt Caunter saw Brixham pull clear.

13th Feb 2010 IVYBRIDGE RESERVES 13 CRUSADERS 17
Tries by Alex Brown and Hank Hendricksen who added both conversions and a drop-goal saw the Crusaders through on the somewhat sloping second pitch at Ivybridge. The win keeps them handily poised in the Merit Table

6th Feb 2010 CRUSADERS 31 EXETER UNIVERSITY 5
The rare occasion of a friendly fixture gave Brixham the opportunity to give some of the Colts a run-out with the seniors.
Brixham opened the scoring with a Ross Edwards penalty goal and extended the lead when Tom Maclean raced over in the corner for the opening try. This was followed by a period of pressure by the students but the defence held firm and Brixham extended the lead when Andrew Thomas finished a slick handling move with a try in the left corner.
Exeter University got on the scoreboard when one of their centres chipped over the Brixham backs, caught his own kick and ran in a try. With none of the conversions successful Brixham led 13-5 at the end of a fairly evenly contested first half.
The first ten minutes of the second half saw the crusaders pounding away at the students' line and they were disallowed two tries when the ball was "held up". The third time they got it to ground - prop Darren Levett emerged from the pile with the ball and a smile.
Hank Hendricksen's pace and attacking line took him clear through the defence fot the fourth Brixham try midway through the half. The Exeter lads never gave up and were attacking when Brixham scored their fifth try. It owed more to football than rugby with the ball kicked, chases, kicked, kicked and caught before Jack Clarke grounded it.
Hendricksen ended an entertaining and well-contested match with a drop goal at the end.

23rd Jan 2010 CRUSADERS 15 CULLOMPTON RES 14
Report to follow

12th Dec 2009 Barnstaple Res 19 Crusaders 8
"I m still a bit pissed off we played better but they scored more tries" - Colin Champion

Try: Tim Bumby; Pen Richard Champion

5th Dec 2009 CRUSADERS 8 SIDMOUTH RES 3

Report to follow!

21st Nov 2009 Crediton Reserrves 5 Crusaders 7
A try by Bryan Crichton, converted by Jack Clark.

7th Nov 2009 PAIGNTON RESERVES 0 CRUSADERS 28
Scorers for Brixham were:
Ross Edwards 2 tries, 4 conversions; Tim Bumby 1 try; Sam Dodge 1 try

31st Oct 2009 CRUSADERS 15 NEWTON ABBOT RES 14

Ross Edwards scored a try and a drop-goal, Jonny Brown a try and conversion

24th Oct 2009 CRUSADERS 48 IVYBRIDGE RES 7
Tries from Mike Shears, Cory Moore, Ross Edwards, Guy Marler (2) and Sam Dodge (2). 5 conversions and a penalty by Jonny Brown.

17th Oct 2009 CRUSADERS 37 OKEHAMPTON 3
The Crusaders kept up the pressure in the Merit table with a fine win over a spirited Okehampton side on Saturday.
The Brixham cause was not aided by the loss of Ryan Bradfield with an ankle injury after just seven minutes. However, the pack generally had the edge over the visitors and when the backs combined they made serious inroads.
Brixham took the lead when winger Guy Marler finished off a move to score a try in the corner. Okehampton then got on the scoreboard with a penalty before Marler again ran down the touchline for a second try. Brixham pressure on the Okehampton line by the forwards failed to get them over but before half-time fullback Dave Langmead got the Crusaders' third try.
In the second period Sam Dodge and James Nash scored tries in quick succession as Brixham pulled clear, Centre Tim Bumby got on the scoresheet midway through the half with Brixham's sixth try.
The final score, fittingly, went to a forward when Sam Thomas was on hand to finish a move started by a break by centre Alex Brown. With only one successful conversion it was not Jonny Brown's best kicking day.
The final quarter of the match yielded no scores with Brixham forced to defend as the Okehampton side looked for some consolation scores.

10th Oct 2009 Cullompton Reserves 47 Crusaders 14

3rd Oct 2009 Exeter Univ. 0 Crusaders 6

26th Sept 2009 Ivybridge Res 6 Crusaders 43
Once again a very young Ivybridge side took to the field, with Captain Simon Ebsworth called up to the 1XV it was Rocky Young who took over this job. Brixham fielded one of the youngest 2XV I can remember seeing for a long time too and it proved to be a very competitive match. ( from Ivybridge website)

Sept 19th 2009 Exmouth Res 23 Crusaders 13

David Langmead scored a try, as did Jonny Brown - who also kicked a penalty.

Sept 12th 2009 CRUSADERS 36 BARNSTAPLE RES 5
Brixham scored most of their points in the first half but the game was won in the second when their defence was unbroken despite fairly continuous pressure.
Brixham were asleep at the start of the game and had scarcely touched the ball when the Barum backs combined to score a try in the corner after less than sixty seconds.
Woken up, they were straight into the attack. Jonny Brown missed a penalty kick but Brixham were soon in the lead. Having forced a Barnstaple defender to ground the ball over the try line Brixham secured the resulting 5m scrum and No 8 Ryan Bradfield powered over from the back of it for the equalising score. Brown added the conversion for the lead.
Ten minutes on the clock and the lead was extended. Full back Matt Dempsey's run was finished off by winger David Langmead - Brown's conversion saw Brixham 14-5 ahead.
In the unseasonable sun the play became more even with neither side able to create much. Barnstaple missed a penalty goal with ten minutes of the first half remaining before Brixham started to put them under increasing pressure. This was rounded off on the stroke of half-time when Langmead went over in the corner for his second try.
In the second period Brixham continued to press the Barum defence - to no avail - before the visitors started to pin them back. Brixham withstood ten minutes pressure and then broke free and put winger Antony Soper clear to cross in the corner and touch down under the posts. An easy conversion for Brown.
With Brixham conceding too many penalties Barnstaple began to enjoy most of the possession and territory but they got little joy from the defense of Brixham. Even a consolation score was denied them and Brixham had the last word when flanker James Agates crossed for a try. Brown's conversion was the last act of the game.

Saturday 5th September 2009 TORQUAY EXTRAS 5 BRIXHAM CRUSADERS 43
Four tries from Sam Thomas, a brace from Ben Cotton and one from Antony Soper; plus 4 conversions by Jonny Brown.

CRUSADERS & ALBION - 2008/9

Saturday 25th April 2009 PAIGNTON RESERVES 12 CRUSADERS 20

Saturday 11th April 2009 CRUSADERS 14 BOURNEVILLE 66

Saturday 28th March 2009 CRUSADERS 20 EXMOUTH RESERVES 22
With the First XV away at Yatton the Crusaders and Exmouth Reserves were the main attraction at Astley Park on Saturday. Four tries in the opening 13 minutes set the scene and neither side, or the referee, seemed to know who had won at the end of an exciting, and close-fought game.
Exmouth started at top speed and within three minutes had the lead through a well-worked try. Five minutes later and their lead was 12 points after a second try. Nathan Dallow had missed a penalty for Brixham before this but soon made amends when he was on hand to finish a move with a try. Minutes later he turned provider, putting wing Antony Soper clear to touch down. Unfortunately Dallow's kicking boots were misfiring in the crosswind and neither conversion was successful.
Exmouth extended their lead with a penalty but Brixham were back on level terms at the interval when prop John Laing finished off a period of forward pressure with an unconverted try.
Seven minutes into the second half and Brixham went into the lead when scrum-half Jason Rowe popped up on the right wing to score Brixham's fourth try. Exmouth now concentrated on using the power of their forwards and for much of the half Brixham were compelled to defend. Five minutes camped on the Brixham line brought the try, and conversion, to put them ahead but they were unable to breach the Brixham defence again. Two penalty kicks were the only clearcut scoring chances they got and both went begging.

Saturday 14th March 2009 CRUSADERS 19 TORQUAY EXTRAS 22
With the first team in League action away at Avonmouth the Brixham second string - the Crusaders - held centre stage at Astley Park in a friendly with their Torquay equivalents. Brixham were missing some regular faces but the missed tackles by the Fishermen proved decisive.
Brixham missed the opportunity to go ahead after seven minutes when a penalty attempt went wide but Torquay attacked from the resulting 22 metre drop out and seconds later touched down for the opening, converted, try.
Midway through the first half Brixham were back on level terms midway through the first half when full back Jonny Brown crossed for a try which he also converted.
The parity was short-lived. Two tries in quick succession gave Torquay a 17-7 lead at the break.
After the interval Brixham conceded a fourth try to fall further behind but came back at Torquay late on. Brown notched a second try before winger Antony Soper showed the visitors a clean pair of heels when he crossed the line. Steve Worth's conversion pulled the deficit back to three points but Brixham were unable to make this up in the remaining time.

Saturday 7th March 2009 CRUSADERS 5 BARNSTAPLE 13

Saturday 28th February 2009 CRUSADERS 79 DARTMOUTH 7
Brixham Crusaders met a rather outclassed Dartmouth side on Saturday and had nine different try-scorers; in total they crossed the line thirteen times.
Brixham got off to a racing start when they gathered the kick off. A couple of passes found the ball in the hands of winger James Nash who ran through to the Darts 22. A quick recycle and lock Andy Hawkes crashed over in the corner for the opening try.
Dartmouth pressure then tested the Crusaders' defensive skills but Brixham held firm and extended their lead with tries from centre Dan Grinrod and scrum-half Paul Lidster - both converted by full-back Guy Marler.
Another brief spell of Dartmouth pressure got them points on the board. A neat move by their backs created a gap in the centre and this was duly exploited with a try under the posts and conversion.
Injuries to Dartmouth players and a lack of replacements did not help their cause and Brixham took control. Lidster and winger Tim Bumby both scored tries (converted by Marler) before the forwards, through Ryan Bradfield and Alun Glanvill, rounded off the first half proceedings with unconverted tries.
In the second half Brixham began to run the ball on every opportunity as the visitors tired and added 6 more tries. Ben Cotton, Andy Penhaligon, Nash and Bumby all got on the scoresheet, Lidster completed his hat-trick and either Bradfield or Glanvill (I think) rounded off the touchdowns. Marler got three more conversions.

Saturday 21st February 2009 CRUSADERS 46 IVYBRIDGE RESERVES 5
Brixham Crusaders had far too much class and pace for the Ivybridge side, running in seven tries with both forwards and backs getting onto the scoresheet.
In fairly ideal kicking conditions both sides missed early penalty attempts before Nathan Dallow slotted the posts to give Brixham the lead. Centre Tim Bumby and prop Darren Levett both touched down for tries to extend the Brixham lead but Dallow missed both conversions. On his third attempt he was successful, converting his own try to give Brixham a 20-0 lead at the break.
After the interval the Crusaders were well on top for the first twenty minutes and put the result well beyond doubt. Winger Sam Dodge very nearly got to the corner for a try but was forced into touch. After the resulting line-out centre Ben Cotton finished off the Brixham attack with a try. Dallow added the extras.
Another Brixham attack resulted in a five-metre line-out; lock Andy Hawkes took the ball at the front and three strides to dive over for a try in the corner.
From the restart Brixham gathered the ball, Bumby broke through the centre and hooker Joe Lovell was on hand to cross near the posts. Dallow needed one of the uprights to get the ball over for the conversion.
Two minutes later, with Ivybridge attacking, Hawkes intercepted on his own 22 and broke clear. A much longer run enabled him to touch down under the posts and give Dallow an easy kick.
Twenty minutes remained and Brixham were approaching the half-century but they took their feet off the gas. Ivybridge scored a try to avoid the whitewash and Brixham failed to score again.

Saturday 14th February 2009 Cullompton Res 20 Crusaders 23

Saturday 31st January 2009 CRUSADERS 6 TORQUAY EXTRAS 0

Saturday 10th January 2009 CRUSADERS 23 SIDMOUTH RESERVES 12

Saturday 3rd January 2009 CRUSADERS 27 NEWTON ABBOT 10
ALBION 27 TOTNES 12

Saturday 20th December 2008 DARTMOUTH 0 CRUSADERS 52

Saturday 6th December 2008 CRUSADERS 18 TIVERTON RESERVES 3
Tiverton opened the scoring with a long-range penalty goal in the fourth minute but their lead was short-lived. From the restart Brixham were on the attack and flanker Ross Fletcher went over in the corner for the opening try. Jake Lawrence failed with the conversion. Another Brixham attack seven minutes later and the ball went out through the backs for Dan Grinrod to dash in for the second try in the opposite corner.
Midway through the half the Tiverton pack launched waves of attack on the Brixham line from close range but when the Crusaders eventually cleared their lines they increased their lead through a Lawrence penalty. More pressure from Tiverton only won them a penalty kick but this went wide and Brixham went further ahead when Alex Parrott touched down just before half-time.
The second half brought no further scores. Tiverton seemed determined to use their forwards to batter a way through the Crusaders but made little headway and created no real scoring chances. Brixham's backs looked dangerous on occasions but the best opportunity, midway through the half, went begging. Grinrod had the try-line at his mercy but failed to catch the greasy ball after a neat cross-kick from Lawrence.

Saturday 29th November 2008 NEWTON ABBOT RESERVES 32 CRUSADERS 27
ALBION 46 NEWTON THIRDS 20

Saturday 22nd November 2008 CRUSADERS 15 BARNSTAPLE RESERVES 26
ALBION v OPM III

Friday 14th November 2008 CRUSADERS 28 EXETER UNIVERSITY RESERVES 13
The students gave the Crusaders a shock by playing a game unlike that of any of the normal opponents - attacking at pace from all parts of the field. In the first period Brixham struggled to cope with them. Twice they took the lead with penalty goals; only for the students to reply in kind. A forward drive brought Brixham the opening try but before half-time Exeter had crossed the Brixham line to equalise and the conversion gave them an interval lead.
In the second half the Crusaders coped better with their opponents and enjoyed the best of the play. A try, conversion and penalty eased them ahead before Jake Lawrence applied the coup de grace with a beautiful touchdown; his conversion was the final act of the game.

Saturday 8th November 2008 SIDMOUTH RESERVES 12 CRUSADERS 19
Brixham travelled to Sidmouth with high expectations of recording another victory and although they came away with the points they were forced to work for every point.
Sidmouth started the stronger and forced Brixham to concede a number of penalties and they soon raced into a 12 point lead courtesy of their fly half's Boot. Brixham did attempt to run the ball at every chance they got but could not break through the Sidmouth defence. From a line out in the Sidmouth 22 the Brixham pack drove forward and they were rewarded with a try from prop Matt Skeet crashing over from five yards.
Brixham started the second half strongly and with backs and forwards combining well it was not long before Matt Skeet added his second try of the day bringing Brixham level on points. The second half saw both defences working hard as no further scores were added. With 15 minutes to go Brixham were awarded a penalty try after Sidmouth continually infringing at the breakdown.. The last 10 minutes saw Brixham down to 14 men when replacement Sean Onslow earned a needless yellow card. Brixhams defence managed to hold out and the final score finished 19 to 12 in Brixhams favour.

Saturday 1st November 2008 CRUSADERS 41 PAIGNTON 13
ALBION 7 IVYBRIDGE III 8

Saturday 25th October 2008 TORQUAY EXTRAS 10 CRUSADERS 25
Brixham came away with a well earned victory in this merit table clash. For the first 15 minutes the sides were evenly matched with both defences holding. The first try came from Full Back Chris Harper showing some good football skills by latching on to a kick through and out pacing the Torquay winger. The Brixham backs attempted to try and run the ball at every chance and Adam Chadwick finished of a move that saw the ball spun through the hands to score out wide. Another such move saw Adam grab his second Try and with both converted. Brixham could have been further ahead but Adam missed his hat trick chance by over running a kick through and missing the ball completely on the Try line. Brixham took a 19 - 0 lead at half time.
Torquay started the second half strongly and Forced Brixham on the back foot and were rewarded with a well taken Try. The Penalty count increased for both sides in the second half and Brixham increased their lead to 22-5 . Torquay added another Try which again went unconverted. The final word went to Brixham with another penalty. There were excellent performances from former Torquay player Tom Winfield and centre Mike Slater.
Team manager Keith Walker is pleased with the way Brixham are now playing and believes this is down to the fact that nearly all the squad of around 25 players are now training regularly and with the inclusion of John Lovell on the coaching staff are now reaping the rewards.
ALBION 22 TORQUAY III 51

Saturday 18th October 2008 CRUSADERS 41 TAUNTON II 15
Brixham carried on from last week by scoring early through second row forward Sam Thomas scoring after a forward drive from a line out. Again forwards and backs were working well together which led to winger Peter Chart scoring out wide. The Brixham backs continued to dominate the game and after a sustained period of pressure Jake Lawrence scored with a well worked move through the centre. A further try was added by centre and man of the match Alex Brown. Late in the second half saw the loss of Peter Chart having just returned from a Hamstring injury with suspected Knee ligament damage. Taunton managed to score just before the half time whistle with a quick tap penalty to reduce the deficit to 24-5
The second half saw Taunton raise their game fearing a big loss and they were rewarded with another try. With changes made, Brixham managed to increase their lead with Alex Brown grabbing his second try of the match. Taunton responded well with a sustained period of pressure , forcing Brixham to concede a number of penalties and mistakes and they crossed the line again to reduce Brixham's lead. Brixham finished the stronger with tries from prop Nick Stoneman (his first for 18 months) and a fine individual effort from winger Adam Chadwick.

Saturday 11th October 2008 CRUSADERS 62 CULLOMPTON 10
Brixham finally showed what can be done when the backs receive quality ball from the forwards. Brixham opened their account in the first 5 minutes with 2 tries from winger Dan Grinrod and outside half Jake Lawrence.
With a lead of 12 - 0 Brixham then allowed Cully back into the game with a converted try and a penalty. Brixham upped a gear and with some quality handling the backs added two more scores through Adam Chadwick and another from Dan Grinrod.
The second half saw Brixham dominate up front and allowed the backs to show their skills with notable performances from Alex Brown and Hank Hendrickson. With Brixham attempting to run the ball from virtually every opportunity further tries were added from Dan Grinrod ( to complete his hat trick ) and from man of the match Jason Rowe. Brixham then made a number of changes and continued to apply pressure and ran in a further 4 tries from James Nash, Matt Skeet and 2 from replacement wing Guy Marler. Six of the 10 scores were converted by Jake Lawrence.

Saturday 27th September CRUSADERS 7 LISKEARD-LOOE 10
Antony Soper ran around the Liskeard defence for Brixham's solitary try but the home side struggled to cope with the Cornish pack. Lack of quality ball strangled the Brixham attack. Late on a shoulder-check prevented Soper from retrieving his chip ahead which could have been a match-saver for Brixham.
ALBION 24 TIVERTON 3rds 12

Saturday 20th September BRIXHAM CRUSADERS 25 BARNSTAPLE RESERVES 17
The Crusaders got off to a flying start when winger Antony Soper went over for a try in the second minute. The two sides then traded penalty goals before Paul Lidster crossed for the second Brixham try. James Onslow converted. Before the interval Brixham added two further tries from Nathan Dallow and James Lund and turned around 25-3 ahead.
In the second period Barnstaple were dominant and Brixham were on the back foot. Two converted tries narrowed the gap but the Crusaders held out for the victory.
BRIXHAM ALBION 31 PLYMSTOCK RESERVES 14

Saturday 13th September EXMOUTH RESERVES 29 CRUSADERS 5