Honiton overwhelmed Plymouth Barbarians in a pulsating first half to cement their league position. Honiton used the elements and running rugby to break them down and score 39 unanswered points.

Honiton overwhelmed Plymouth Barbarians in a pulsating first half to cement their league position.

Honiton used the elements and running rugby to break them down and score 39 unanswered points.

With the forwards prompt and efficient at the ruck area, Guilbert used the platform to ensure that the game was played in the right areas. Honiton knew that with a back three of Webber, Canniford and Dobson, running the ball wide would be the best tactic, especially with the size of the home pack. Within the first five minutes, Honiton won a penalty, which Webber converted, and further pressure from the kick-off saw the Honiton pack move swiftly down the left. As the ball was spun to the right, De Large collected it at pace and broke the gain line 10 yards out. He stepped the full back convincingly to dot down under the posts for a converted score.

By this stage Honiton were winning the kicking exchanges with some ease. They won a scrummage against the head in the Baa Baa's 22. Skipper Hannay picked up and drove to within two yards, Nex found Guilbert who drew the defence before slipping to De Large who crossed from three yards for another converted score.

Honiton again worked well from the restart; Rice picked from the base of a ruck and made excellent yards, breaking several tackles, pumping his legs and fending off defenders. Dobson made himself available on the right wing and Rice threw a superb 20 metre pass on the move. Dobson used his pace to finish off in the bottom right hand corner.

Honiton kicked a penalty shortly afterwards through Webber, and from the kick-off the Lacemen produced their most clinical move of the match. They flung the ball wide to Canniford and he showed good pace and safe hands to put Webber down the wing. Webber made 40 yards before cutting infield and offloading back to Canniford who put Sampson in to finish a flowing move. Webber added the extras.

The final try of the half came as Honiton marched down the left with several phases before spinning the ball to the midfield. De Large found Dobson and Hannay on the wing with a clever chip and Hannay gathered to bundle over from 10 yards out.

It was a slightly different story in the second half as the home side outscored the Lacemen by three tries to one. Honiton scored first in the second period as a scrummage saw the play go up the blind and, from a ruck which Dobson created, the play moved to the left where Sampson made an excellent line break. He was tap tackled and stopped just short. From the ruck, Honiton were awarded a penalty, which they tapped and moved right. The yield was another penalty five yards out, where the forwards used a training ground move to score through Rice, converted by Webber.

Honiton switched off in the last quarter and their defence will be the subject of some scrutiny this week, but, all in al,l it was a fantastic result for the side and the first 65 minutes was dominated by the Lacemen.