Newton Abbot All Whites lost their sixth consecutive game and slipped into the relegation zone, swapping places with Old Centralians who beat basement club Chippenham 31-nil.

Dings Crusaders led from the tenth minute, and by the 47th minute had scored their bonus point try to be 29-11 ahead.

However, to Newton’s credit they didn’t concede again and grabbed a losing bonus point – their ninth of the season – with a last-minute converted try.

The home side had started the match strongly and should probably have banked a catch-and-drive try, but weren’t patient enough, allowing Dings to clear the danger.

Dings then put turnover ball to good use, running the possession into the corner and winning a penalty. Newton defended the subsequent catch and drive routine but couldn’t stop prop Josh Lloyd reaching over the line to dot the ball down a few phases later.

Full-back Mark Woodrow knocked over the conversion for a 7-nil lead.

Home full-back Tom Putt responded five minutes later with a penalty, but Dings soon doubled their score.

A Newton attack broke down in midfield, the ball was turned over and visiting scrum-half Ricky Jones exploited a gap close to the ruck and raced in from 40 metres for a try under the posts, duly converted by Woodrow.

Putt then missed a long-range penalty before Woodrow landed one of his own for a 17-3 lead.

On the half-hour mark, referee Matt Rosier issued the first of the afternoon’s four yellow cards, to Newton’s Lewys Ryan. From the subsequent penalty and driven lineout, flanker Matt Wright was credited with the touchdown.

The hosts then went close to scoring a try; Dings failed to secure their own lineout ball on halfway and the possession was put to good use by the home threes, with centre Kevin Dennis running 40 metres before being hauled down.

Killing the ball at the ensuing ruck meant a visit to the bin for Jones and three points from Putt’s boot.

In the minutes approaching half-time, Newton pressed hard, but Putt missed a penalty.

Dings lost a further player to the bin – fly-half Ben Bolster – and Newton scored a corner try through centre Jake Monnington to go into the break 22-11 adrift.

The first score after the break can often dictate the eventual outcome and when Dings, through their bulky pack, put captain Sean Williams over the line for a Woodrow converted try, the writing was on the wall for Newton.

At 29-11 down, the All Whites had a lot of catching up to do, but plenty of time left.

A try was fashioned deep in their own half – brothers Martin and Kyle Browne linked-up behind a scrum to send the latter on a long run. The winger found his supporting threes who put Monnington in for his second that Putt converted.

Monnington was the fourth to see yellow after an attempted interception went wrong.

Newton looked increasingly likely to score against a tiring Dings, but didn’t add to their total until late.

The lead-up had a touch of controversy about it. Home front rower Matt Dowrick made an individual run from half way and appeared to have scored in clubhouse corner. There was doubt about whether Dowrick stayed in play and, following consultation with the touch judge, the score was ruled out but the game restarted with an attacking scrum – the least likely of the options available.

Newton won the ball and moved it in-field where Ryan – by this time at scrum half – forced his way over from 15 metres; Putt’s conversion was the last action of the game.

Newton Abbot 1st XV next game is away to Old Redcliffians a week tomorrow.

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