NEWTON Abbot have to dust themselves down after an opening-day pasting at Tiverton for Saturday’s home game against Wellington in South West Two.
The All Whites went down 36-0 to newly promoted Tiverton, which was hardly the start player-coach Lloyd Radford would have been hoping for.
After two consecutive seasons battling to dodge the drop, Newton are hoping for some respite from relegation worries this term.
Newton Abbot trailed 19-0 at halftime and barely threatened the Tiverton red zone in the second half.
Scrum-half Alex Curtis put Tiverton’s first try on the board. By halftime, Curtis had a second and Ben Bingham had crossed as well. Kicker Callum Stone was two from three in a running total of 19-0.
George Whiting scooted in for the bonus-point try after the break. Stone converted that try for 26-0.
Full-back Henry Sellick assumed kicking duties for the rest of the game. He filed a penalty and the extras points to a Stevens try.
Tiverton 2nd XV ran up a 59-5 win away to Newton Abbot 2nd XV in the mirror-image Devon Two game at Rackerhayes.
It has not been a great week for the All Whites as back-five forward Matt Wreyford has re-joined former club Exmouth.
Wreyford is the second Newton forward to join Exmouth this season as Charlie Dore is already there.