Devon derbies don’t come much better than the match played in heavy conditions at Rackerhayes on Saturday, with a controversial try, plus the tension of a final kick to swing the result all part of the mix, writes Gordon?Hooper.

Tenth-placed All Whites – who are having a season of near misses – took on table-topping Barnstaple, and true to form dipped out once more in a game that the home side led for most of the way before losing 21-20.

The first scoring opportunity fell to visiting fly-half Jordan Petherbidge who pulled a drop goal attempt wide of the posts.

Newton took the lead after 14 minutes via winger Jake Monnington who intercepted on halfway before racing to the try line for a Rob Avery-Wright converted try.

The fly-half then pushed Newton further ahead with a penalty, but despite having more than their fair share of both territory and possession the south Devon side failed to push on even when the opposition were temporarily reduced to 14 with hooker James Starkey in the bin.

Barnstaple scored while short-handed; an aimless kick from Newton was marked by Barum, the expected clearing kick to touch was turned down, and instead Newton were caught napping as four passes later flanker and captain Winston James was touching down near the posts to finish off a 90-metre counter-attack.

This score – against the run of play – was converted by Petherbridge to leave the visitors trailing only 10-7 at the break.

It took 25 minutes for the scoreboard to move again, but once the deadlock was broken, 24 points were scored in the frantic closing stages.

Newton lost centre Mounga Molisi to the bin, Barnstaple opted for a scrum instead of a simple penalty and subsequently scored a debatable try.

A chip ahead appeared to be propelled forward by a hand over the try-line before being touched down by the following up Alex Pike.

Referee Zerren Bell later claimed that the ball had been legally headed forward, so gave the try that was converted by Petherbridge which put Barum in front for the first time at 14-10.

An Avery-Wright penalty cut the deficit to a single point, but from the restart Newton gifted the ball back to Barum who attacked again to score another seven-pointer.

Winger Will Topps picked his way through the traffic to score, for Petherbridge to knock over his third conversion for a 21-13 lead.

Petherbridge then saw yellow as Newton mounted a spirited response which saw prop Tom Brown hauled over in clubhouse corner; Avery-Wright converted to make it a one point game with only injury time left.

Newton learned from the previous restart by retaining possession and going through the phases. A penalty was eventually awarded just inside Barum territory and with no time left, Avery-Wright had no option but to take on the long-range attempt.

His well struck kick fell agonisingly short, leaving Barnstaple to put the ball off the park and celebrate probably their hardest earned win of their campaign.

The All Whites were left pondering what could have been with yet another losing bonus point – their seventh of the season – as their only reward from an epic encounter.

The two sides started and ended nine places apart, but Newton are now 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

Their next target is to move up to ninth which can be achieved on Saturday by winning at Ivybridge. who are currently in that spot.

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