Second team's review of the year

Like the first, this season saw the reserves in uncharted waters as they were promoted into the new Devon, North and East Division two-merit table. And when all things considers, not only did they survived in this league but they came a creditable forth. Success has come about because of a good combination of a lot of old heads that still enjoy a run around, combined with a smattering of learning younger players.

In the season they played a total of 26 games wining 13 drawing 2 and losing 11. Points for was 504 and against it was 582. In the league they played 16 games, Won 8, Lost 7 and Drew 1. Points for was 270 and points against was 405.

Despite a bad shoulder injury Steve Thomas lead the side very well from the touch line and the on field general duties were shared between, Jeremy Rice, Dave McGarth, Dave Meadows and Mick Huskins. The team was some what unsettled this season and it was hard to put out a consistent side each week, this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that some 76 different players were used over the season. Rikki Lennon got the most caps with 24 out of a possible 26 available he also scored the most tries with 13. Player of the season went to new commer Mark Beeken who won the voted for the award by some margin and he was regared by his colleagues as the always positive real workman of the side.

Honiton’s introduction to the league was a difficult away trip to Devonport Services and this proved to be their heaviest defeat of the season when they went down by 78-5 however this defeat did have some thing to do with the fact that all ships were in port that weekend and there was an added bonus for the home side in that, five rather well built Fijians were being enrolled into the services that week and they all fancied a run out before being shipped off to other ports. The home game later in the season was a much better result as it was respectable draw and by all accounts it was Honiton that let it get away from them.

Their biggest win was against North Tawton 1st fifteen when they won 47-12. They also retained the Paddy Tompson Cup from Saracens winning by a comfortable 34-5 margin...but game of the season was the “against all odds performance” against a much fancied Sidmouth Seconds team. The final score was a mere 13-8 to Honiton but what a game! Fielding a much weaken side with just the bare 15 players on show they went over the hill and into the old enemies back yard to be confronted with a fit young squad of well over 20 players going thoriugh prematch drills and without a realistic chance of winning, Honiton some how managed to silenced the large crowd with a performance that can only be decribed as one of pure guts, heart and blind believe!

League Two (East and North) May 2006

Played Won Drawn Lost Points PD+/-

Withycombe 15 13 - 2 40 +201

Devonport Services 16 11 1 4 38 +197

Tavistock 16 13 - 3 35 +220*

Honiton 16 8 1 7 32 -139

Kingsbridge 15 8 - 7 31 - 23

Bideford 16 6 - 10 28 -127

OPM’s 16 6 - 10 27 -156

Wessex 16 3 - 13 14 - 68*

Okehampton 16 2 - 14 13 -141*


*points deducted

Promoted Withycombe
Relegated Wessex and Okehampton