08/09/2026
Brixham Colts start the season with a solid performance against Plymstock Oaks Colts
Brixham 40 : 15 Plymstock Oaks
With the ‘Party on the Pitch’ occupying the main pitch this afternoon, the match was played on a remarkably grassy top pitch, showing no signs of the recent drought.
Apart from a stiffish breeze blowing across the pitch the sunny conditions were conducive to a fast open game and both sides contributed to an attractive display of rugby.
Brixham has always considered itself a family club and it was great to see the sons and grandsons of some of our top ex players either playing or watching from the touch line. Also lovely to see Shirley Green spectating, wife of the late Geoff, and mother of Steve a fine ex prop, and grandmother of Jordan and Jake, two excellent backs with bags of potential! Geoff was a fine centre in his time with whom I had the privilege of playing before his retirement. At the risk of digressing, Shirley and Geoff have been responsible for teaching countless numbers of youngsters to swim over the years, an absolute necessity living in a seaside town, a feat for which they were officially and rightly recognised!
And so on with the game, which was played in four periods of 20 minutes, and as usual, my apologies in advance if, being unfamiliar with the side, I have inadvertently gotten a name wrong or attributed some great passage of play to the wrong person! That goes for the try scorers too - conflicting info on them (which accounts for the report going to press late!) but hopefully finally got them right!
Anyway on with my usual wordy (but detailed!) report!
Brixham kicked off and Plymouth were unable to field the ball cleanly and knocked it into touch.
The Brixham throw in was well taken and the ball was spun out to the wing but the final pass was forward.
From the Plymouth scrum their no.10 put in a long kick deep into Brixham territory, but full back Jensen Booth fielded the ball and drove it back into Plymouth’s half. The bounce beat the defenders but not Jensen who was following up sharply, and he collected and scored.
Owen McInally added the extra points.
Brixham 7 Plymouth 0
The Plymouth kick off went straight into touch, giving Brixham a scrum back.
The packs were evenly matched with Brixham maybe giving away a few pounds, but they heeled the ball quickly for Owen to make a good touch deep in the visitors’ half.
Plymouth won their throw in and kicked, following up to force a ruck, which Brixham won and when the ball was spun out to Danny Chart (one of another great rugby family!), he flew in to score halfway out for an unconverted try.
Brixham 12 Plymouth 0
Plymouth followed up their restart but Brixham defended well and earned a scrum.
A quick heel saw Owen clear to the 22.
Plymouth ran from the line out and caught Brixham offside. They kicked the penalty to Brixham’s 5m line and caught the throw in but Brixham’s forwards did well to win the ensuing ruck, and Owen relieved the pressure with a kick to the 22.
Plymouth ran again from the line out, but were held up by a great tackle from Jake Green.
Plymouth managed to recycle the ball, however, and a good run by their centre, evading three tackles, saw him score wide out.
Their no. 10 pushed the difficult conversion attempt wide.
Brixham 12 Plymouth 5
Brixham kicked off long and followed up but play broke down on Plymouth’s 22.
At this point the referee who had a good game throughout, blew up for the end of the first quarter.
Play restarted as the first quarter ended with a scrum to Plymouth.
Plymouth won the ball and cleared to the halfway line.
Brixham’s throw was not straight so scrum to Plymouth.
They spun the ball wide but good defence saw Jake putting in a big hit, and the ball was spun out again.
Plymouth infringed and Brixham put in a long kick to Plymouth’s 22.
An untidy line out let Plymouth off the hook, but Brixham forced a scrum, and quick ball from the forwards saw Danny Chart make a half break to send Ben D**e flying over.
Owen added the extras
Brixham 19 Plymouth 5
The Plymouth kick off was knocked on and they ran it from the scrum but good defence saw possession turned over and Jake kicked long with Brixham backs closely following up. Danny Chart scythed through the centre to hand onto Quin Liley in close support to touch down.
Owen slotted the conversion.
Brixham 26 Plymouth 5
Plymouth chased the kick off and forced a scrum.
They ran it but the defence were up and penalised for a high tackle. Plymouth kicked to the corner.
Plymouth, always willing to run the ball moved it wide but Brixham were up quickly and forced a knock on.
A good push in the scrum gave the backs quick ball and Danny made a good touch.
At this point the ref signalled the end of the second quarter.
Plymouth kicked off and Brixham ran the ball back. Jake made a good break and reverse passed back inside but the ref blew for an infringement.
Plymouth once again took on the Brixham backs but were held up by some good covering and it was Brixham’s turn to attack with good work by Charlie Robinson, but they knocked on.
Plymouth spun the ball away from the scrum but lost possession and the home threes put together some smart passing for Danny Chart to fly over the line.
Jake slotted the conversion.
Brixham 33 Plymouth 3
George Squires caught the kick off and drove into the defenders, but the ball was lost in contact, and Plymouth spun the ball wide. Seeing his chance Will Lloyd intercepted and looked sure to score but disappointingly was adjudged to have been offside and the ref blew to signal the end of the third quarter.
Plymouth kicked off the final quarter and made touch inside Brixham’s 22.
The Plymouth jumpers secured possession and drove for the line. Brixham’s defence held momentarily but Plymouth’s impetus broke the lines and forced a try halfway out which their no 10 converted.
Brixham 33 Plymouth 10
Brixham’s kick off was long and the visiting flyhalf caught and ran out of defence, but was tackled and lost possession, for Will Lloyd to make a good break and off load to Ben in close support to score his second try. Jake again added the points
Brixham 40 Plymouth 10
Plymouth’s kick off was returned and the fielder was caught in possession and forced into touch.
The visitors secured the ball and ran out of defence but the attack was halted when the Plymouth centre was tackled into touch.
Brixham ran back at the visitors but lost possession and the game seesawed with Charlie Robinson and Jake putting in some big tackles.
Plymouth continued to press, and a high tackle gave them a penalty which was well caught by Jake who put in a long kick to touch on the 10m line.
Plymouth caught and rucked, but Charlie denied them possession until the visitors managed to break clear and force a try near the posts, but the conversion was missed.
Brixham 40 Plymouth 15
From the kick off Plymouth caught and ran the ball, but Brixham’s strong defence caused the visitors to infringe and the resulting penalty was kicked to half way, Plymouth fielded and ran it back but were tackled and Owen made a good touch in the corner. From the line out Brixham put together a good attack but infringed in front of the posts.
Brixham’s pack exerted a good push but Plymouth heeled and ran well out of defence up to the Brixham 22. Brixham broke up the attack and put in a long kick to touch, at which point the ref blew for full time.
Final score
Brixham 40 Plymouth 15
A great start for the young Fishermen who were made to work hard for their victory by a Plymouth side who were willing to run the ball at every opportunity.
With it becoming ever harder to recruit players from outside due to competition and being farther from the large clubs than most, it’s heartening to witness the emergence of talented homegrown players, coached and managed by a team with a great pedigree of rugby behind it - coaches Ashley McInally, Pete Chart, Lee Squire and Rob Savage, manager Owain Rees, and medic Steve Lloyd - that’s quite a line up!
Director of rugby and fitness coach, Jon Ellery, himself a fine player back in the day, was quite rightly pleased with the young fishermen’s performance. And Man of the Match award went to prop Matus Pachio for the tireless and often unseen, contribution he made throughout the game, well deserved Matus!
