The Stags ended their 2021 campaign with a resounding win over Bideford RFC who they lost too earlier in the season by just the one point.

With an earlier KO time of 2.15pm it was clear from the off The Stags wanted to be lapping up some beer as quickly as possible after the game as they drew first blood after 6 minutes of play with Luke Gowan scoring the first try from the back of a rolling maul after winning the lineout. 5-0.

Bideford struck back shortly after by slotting a penalty for off side. 5-3.

The Stags began to pick up the tempo and were ruthless in all areas of the park. The quick recycling of ball was too much for Bideford to cope with and Will Hopkins crossed the white wash to score 10-3 after 14 minutes.

Full back, Alex Watkins, who returned from injury, found himself on the score sheet on the 20th minute as the ball worked its way across the pitch through several phases of play and he happened to score out wide 15-3.

10 minutes later, the unimaginable happened and to everyone’s amazement when Ash Cutter, who can dead lift over 250kg I will add, made an break into the Bideford 22 area, took the ball into contact 10m from the line and used his power and strength to keep going. More Bideford players tried in vein to bring the beast down but Cutter powered his way over the line with four Bideford players clinging on to score and get the bonus point. 20-3.

Loose head prop, Stef Pierce, bounced his way from the back of another rolling maul several minuets later and Captain Sam Lewis found himself on the score sheet on the stroke of half time. Tim Piper managed to score that conversion as it was just to left of the posts.

HT Score 32-3

Bideford seemed a bit bewildered with the half time score as they were playing that bad but it was just the pace, quick ball and width that The Stags played that they couldn’t deal with. Bideford did score out wide after their winger stepped inside to evade a couple of Stags to claw back some points 32-10.

Lewis responded several minutes later after spotting there was no one on the blind from 10m out to extend the score 37-10 but then Hopkins was caught knapping in his own 22 area as the Bideford flyhalf saw the gaps appear in the defensive line to score under the posts 37-17.

The Stags scrum began to dominate towards the end of the game and what fitting way to end the year was to see our very own Ex Deaf England International veteran, Nick Mcken score The Stags final try of the year with Alex Watkins getting the conversion..

Final Score 44-17.

From myself and The Committee we would like to wish you all a jolly good Christmas and Safe New year.