The Stags took to the M5 then West a fraction this Saturday and found themselves lost in a place called Wiveliscombe who ironically have a decent rugby team, so we descended on the club house and called a game, and what a game it turned out to be.

A couple of lates changes due to the dreaded COVID and injuries meant that Ed Lewis stepped in at front row and Lewis Dodge sat on the bench to support Ed when he was ready to leave the field of play.

The Stags started with the wind, and the slope of the pitch, to there advantage in the first half and seeking to inflict a high score line knowing of old how the home side can turn the table. The stags kept Wivvy in there half for the first 10 minutes but a couple bad decisions allowed Wivvy to gain territory back up the slope albeit it wasn’t for long.
Tim Piper got the first points of the game to take the lead 0-3 after 15 minutes.
The pack of Stags set a decent platform for the back line to have quick ball and in one phase the ball was whipped out by Sam Lewis, to Piper, then through the centre partnership of Holder & Fear and winger Beard who was supported by Full back Scott Havercroft to score out wide after 20 minutes 0-8.

Wivvy’s stand off was kicking well all game and through some ill-discipline from The Stags clawed back 6 answered points with his boot in a 5 minute period 6-8.

Wivvy began to gain momentum, with the side lines roaring them on, for the closing period of the First Half but The Stags defence was solid and forced a couple of errors.

Wivvy now had the wind and slope to their advantage which paid off when they were awarded a scrum just inside The Stags 22 area. The Stags were caught napping and off went one of the Wivvy players, unopposed, to score and the boot of the 10 kicked the additional 2 points 13-8.

The home team had the upper hand but The Stags dug deep, never let there heads drop and composed themselves to highest order. Piper clawed back 3 points with 20 Minutes to go, 13-11 and it was this point the game changed.

The Stags kept ball in hand and started to play the quick and expansive style of rugby we all know which is ruthless and immensely difficult to defend. A move that started in the visitors half, saw Toby Fear make 30m of ground who the off loaded to the supporting No 8 Ash Cutter and all 110+ KG of him bulldozered his way through 3 players to score. 13-16.

From the restart The Stags continued to apply the pressure on Wivvy with ball in hand and up popped Josh Holder to score the thris try of game under the posts who made it easy for Piper to convert 13-23. This silenced the home crowd and WIvvy began to faulter even more which gave Havercroft the opportunity to score his second try of the game out wide and make it virtually impossible for Wivvy to win with 8 minutes of play remaining.

The Stags saw out those remaining minutes with composure and sensible game management.

Final Score 13-28

Club Stalwart, Tim Piper said after the game that the second half had to be one of the best performances he had played in……. he’s played quite a few, and it was a joy to watch for all the travelling supports and team management.

By the way, Ed played all 80 minutes…….Sorry Dodge!