If Teignmouth do manage to escape relegation this season they will be immensely grateful to their hooker Pete Parsons who, after scoring a hat-trick of tries the previous week against Bideford, went one better in this bottom-of-the-table tussle.
However, Parsons will be the first to acknowledge that his status of top try-scorer is down to the strength and organisation of the rest of the pack, who have developed an almost unstoppable rolling maul.
This tactic, favoured by coach Simon Morrell for a couple of seasons, has begun to pay dividends and is largely responsible for his side having finally escaped the drop-zone for the first time this season.
Earlier in the season nothing was working well for the Teigns as they stumbled from one heavy beating to another.
The first game against Avonmouth was a real embarrassment as a scratch team got hammered 71-5, but that match became a turning point, and since then they have picked up 30 points from 11 matches.
Morrell and his fellow selectors sprang a couple of surprises for this match, and both turned out to be a real success.
Chris Sherlock was talked out of self-imposed retirement, and colt Kyran Rendle made his debut – the two of them justifying the faith placed in them.
The first half was an even affair. with the visitors taking an early lead through a Charlie Reynolds try, but Parsons’ first two tries and Dan Force’s penalty and conversion put the hosts in the driving seat.
Avonmouth kept in touch when Chris Hurd touched down under the posts and Reynolds converted.
The second half was anything but even, as the Teigns dominated from start to finish.
Danny Luffman scored his tenth of the season; Jason Luff intercepted on the halfway line and ran in a splendid try, before Parsons and his forward colleagues finished off the job; Force added three conversions to give his side their biggest win of the season.
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