Teams 
Bideford were fortunate to grind out a hard-fought victory against a much-improved Ivybridge side in an absorbing contest that swung back and forth throughout.
From the outset, both teams were fully committed, throwing everything into the pursuit of a result. Bideford struck first, with Sam Picillo opening the scoring after a slick backs move released him into the corner for his first try of the afternoon. Ivybridge responded almost immediately, crossing under the posts and adding the conversion to take a 7–5 lead.
Bideford continued to play with ambition, moving the ball well and maintaining a high tempo, with Jack Balsdon particularly influential in attack. The forwards then made their presence felt, executing a well-drilled catch-and-drive from a line-out, allowing Richard “Old Man” Weston to rumble over for a try and restore Bideford’s lead at 10–7.
Picillo struck again before the break, finishing another sharp backline move to claim his second try in the corner and send Bideford into half-time with a 15–7 advantage. Although Bideford appeared to be in control, Ivybridge had other ideas and came out firing in the second half. Their forwards powered over from close range following another strong catch-and-drive, before a charged-down clearance gifted them further momentum.
Bideford steadied themselves and reclaimed the initiative, with Picillo completing a well-deserved hat-trick after a sustained period of pressure, capping an excellent individual performance. Dave Evans-Pearce then added another, showing great awareness to snatch the ball at the side of a maul and dart over the line, extending Bideford’s lead to 25–19.
Ivybridge refused to go away and, after a succession of penalties, crossed for a try to the right of the posts, leaving the conversion to decide the outcome. Under pressure, the kick drifted wide, and the final whistle sounded to confirm the narrowest of victories for Bideford in a thoroughly entertaining game of rugby.
