FOLLOWING on from an opening day victory, Teignmouth RFC 1st XV fans showed up at Bitton Park hoping for a repeat performance, reports Judi Hellier.

Cullompton were the opponents this time around and, despite finishing ahead of them in the Regional 2 South West standings last year, Teignmouth lost this fixture both home and away.

With plenty to prove, the Teigns started strong but it was the visitors who got the ball rolling, successfully kicking a penalty for a 0-3 advantage.

Teignmouth conceded another penalty shortly after and Cully kicked for the posts once again, making it 0-6.

The home defence held strong where possible but they were eventually breached, Cullompton breaking through to notch the first try of the game. Their kick was good, moving into a 13-point lead.

They added three more points moments later as they kicked a penalty gifted to them. The kick-off didn’t go 10 and from the scrum, Teignmouth were penalised.

There was plenty of fight still in the ranks of the home team though and after gradually working their way up the field, they had something of their own to celebrate.

Captain George Franklin crossed the white line from a driving maul to take the score to 5-16.

Teignmouth’s momentum grew and grew until they had a second try, a maul giving them the opportunity to put the ball through the hands to the wing where Dan Hayward was on hand to score.

Another conversion was missed but they were now within striking distance, heading into the half-time break.

The pause in play did nothing to stifle the Teignmouth trajectory, Jack Bowen cutting Cully’s lead to a single point and fullback Jordan Hellier then putting his side ahead for the first time that afternoon. With this fourth try also came a guaranteed bonus point.

As tensions rose at Bitton Park, the home crowd were eventually awarded with a fifth and decisive try, Will Sowden diving over and Jack Mayne converting for a 27-16 Teigns win.

Teignmouth women were also in action, taking on rivals Newton Abbot the night prior in the Devon Cup.

This was a first game of the season for Teignmouth and it came under the lights, also being the first they have entered this cup competition.

Neighbours Newton Abbot are a league above so it was always going to a tall task, and so it proved.

Teignmouth were delighted to welcome several new players, and it was great to see a full team with substitutes.

It didn’t take long for Newton to open the scoring, taking a 0-5 lead which eventually became 0-10. In spite of the spirited Teignmouth defence, the All Whites kept coming and the score crept up to 0-30.

The home side were unable to get on the board in the first half but they were duly rewarded for their fighting spirit after the break.

Caitlin Keyte, a speedy winger, scored on her debut to get Teignmouth on the board.

Back of the match Keyte added another and forward of the match Elly Meacham also crossed with the sides scoring 17 points apiece in the second 40, for a final score of 17-47.