Draw at Topsham not enough to see Totts through

by Richard Isaacs | May 3, 2025 | Senior Rugby

It wasn’t quite to be for Tottonians, who mounted an outstanding second half fightback at Regional 2 South-West champions Topsham but the 24-24 draw wasn’t enough to overturn the Devonians three point first leg advantage.

TOPSHAM 24 TOTTONIANS 24
Bonfire Field, Topsham
Saturday 3rd May 2025
Papa John’s Regional 2 Championship Quarter-Final 2nd Leg
(Topsham win 60-57 on aggregate)

The Papa John’s Cup is a much maligned competition, one that is not universally loved by a great many. However, if those who mock and belittle it had viewed the 160 minutes of nerve-shredding, nail-biting and heart-raising tension served up by Topsham and Tottonians over the last two weekends, they may consider their view.

Tottonians travelled to the outskirts of Exeter trailing by just three points from the first leg of this quarter-final at Water Lane – two legged rugby matches … who knew that was a thing! Questioned initially, it made for some thrilling entertainment (ask Farnham, who overturned their 12 point home deficit against Beckenham to win by 14 points in the second leg and now travel to Devon next weekend).

It didn’t feel like it though in the first half on the banks of the River Exe despite a promising opening that saw Tottonians almost wipe the arrears off within the opening four minutes. A steal at a ruck set up play in midfield with Cam Flint, celebrating his 100th competitive 1st XV appearance, bursting through but the pass from the impressive Nic Jansen was deemed to be forward and the pressure was relieved.

And it had been all about the visitors until they were reduced to 14 men when lock Callum Turvey was sent to the sin-bin on nine minutes and, from the subsequent penalty, hooker Ethan Barnaschone found space to slice through for the opening score, considerably against the run of play. Henry Batty converted and it began a precession which the visitors struggled to halt.

The hosts added a second try on 13 minutes, as they punched holes in the Totts line and with good handling, a trait that has seen them dominiate their 2 South-West division by 19 points, scoring 1,155 points in the process, it allowed skipper Marcus Cottle to bustle over for his first try of the season.

It was a continual barrage and, no sooner had Totts regained their sin-binned man, they went down to 14 again when Leo Tongue was removed for a spell for obstruction, that coming after he was involved in a nasty incident that saw Topsham full-back Dec Hadley whisked to hospital with blood pouring from his face and concussion.

On the half-hour, the home side went over again. Jack Perry collected the ball from a line out and with fine skills through the hands, the flanker weaved his way to the line and Batty added the extras for 19-0 and a 22-point lead on aggregate.

Back to a full compliment of players, Totts started to put some pressure back on the hosts and they were rewarded on 35 minutes. Having made their way up field, Topsham were penalised. The kick to touch ensued, Jansen took a fine catch at the line and, recycling the ball excellently, it was Flint who was on hand to mark his milestone game with a try under the posts – his eighth of another outstanding season for the utility forward.

However, the response from Topsham was immediate. Winger Austin Crow showed some silky skills and electric pace as he zipped up the wing and his kick ahead bounced very nicely for him to collect and he touched down wide out. The conversion was missed but the lead at the break was 24-7 on the day and 60-40 overall.

Nick Osman, taking on the lead coach role with the absence of the hospitalised brother Phil and the Army head coach at Twickenham Tim, send his side out with a renewed vigour and, sensing that the hosts thought they had the game already sown up, set about dismantling the arrears.

It took just two minutes for the Tottonians faithful, who had travelled in considerable numbers from far and wide, to raise the noise levels on the sidelines. The kick-off was not deemed to have gone ten but, from the scrum, Totts stole against the head. Bruno Nascimbene lead the charge and with Jansen on his shoulder, he found scrum-half Harry Dolbear to scoot under the sticks. Rich Colmer added the conversion and it was game on!

The natural flow of Topsham’s game seemed to desert them in the second period with uncharacteristic knock-ons and mismoves that allowed the visitors a strong foothold into the game.

And when Dolbear took full advantage of a Topsham attempted play which faltered on half way, the diminuative scrum-half collected and out ran the Devonian defence to send the travelling green, white and black supporters into a frenzy on 54 minutes, cutting the lead to just five points on the day and eight overall.

It would set-up a grandstand finish and things began to get a little heated on the field as tensions grew – so much so that both Jamie Laing and Topsham’s George Holwill were shown yellow cards for their part.

But, unlike the previous spells when Totts were down to 14, it was they who were the most likely to score and score they did and it was Tom Tully who benefited, soaring around the outside of the Topsham defence to level the scores 24-24. George Hixon, on as a replacement, saw his conversion attempt strike the upright.

There was just four minutes remaining on a running clock and Tottonians threw everything at their hosts and it could have been so different had Oli King just been a few centimeters further forward to collect a pass that was just out of his reach, knocking the ball on in the process with the line tantilisingly close.

Topsham kicked to touch, the Bristol-based referee blew for full time with many feeling there was still time to play (just 41 minutes and 33 seconds on a running clock) but it wasn’t to be and that penalty concession at Water Lane seven days previously was all that would separate these two evenly matched outfits – nine tries and six conversions each.

The hosts had not lost on their Bonfire Field home for two years and, whilst they did not lose this, 24-24 was the scoreline on the board and they breathed a huge sigh of relief as they clung on desperately at the end.

The Papa John’s Cup is a much maligned competition, is it? Come and watch games like this, tell the players it doesn’t matter, tell the supporters who needed a sit down and a calming beverage afterwards that it doesn’t … this was cup rugby at it’s very finest and, whilst there are many issues with the competition, games like this make it a viable option if it is done correctly.

TOTTONIANS POINT SCORERS:
2 tries – Harry Dolbear (sponsored by W J French & Son)
1 try – Tom Tully (sponsored by Brewpack)
1 try – Cam Flint (sponsored by T C B Sports)
2 conversions – Rich Colmer

COACH NICK OSMAN REVIEWS THE DRAW AT TOPSHAM