East Devon Eagles returned to play Somerset Vikings this week in the semi final of the South West Challenge Cup and earned their place in the final on Wednesday 5th August with a 74-12 victory.

 

Eagles were first on the scoresheet following a penalty and the ball was passed out to Jack Westlake who battled his way through the Vikings defence to touchdown wide out, the conversion going wide.  From the kick off, Rich Cadywould caught the high ball, on to Andy Lendon who passed back to Cadywould for him to go over under the posts, kicking his own conversion.

 

On 15 minutes, Westlake played the ball to Sean Lovett and a slick pass to Olly Turton saw him make a fine touchline run to score wide out, Cadywould converting.  Cadywould then added another converted try to the scoresheet and on 20 minutes from a nice break by  Jascha Saeck the ball was passed wide to Lovett and on to Shaun Fayter form him to go over in the far corner, Cadywould adding the extras to give the Eagles 26 points.  However, poor Eagles defence on the line allowed Vikings Paul Shepherd to score, converted by Andrew Bellamy.

 

The last 10 minutes of the half saw 2 more Eagles tries.  Westlake played the ball to skipper Dave McCarthy who passed inside to Cadywould some 15 metres out who then ran through to ground the ball under the posts for his hat-trick try, also kicking the goal and just before the break Turton had a strong run, breaking tackles and then passing to Cadywould who jinked his way under the posts for a converted try giving a half time score Vikings 6 Eagles 38.

 

The 2nd half started with the Eagles straight on the scoresheet.  Following a penalty, McCarthy offloaded to Cadywould who passed wide to Paul Morgan on the wing who touched down by the corner flag but the long range conversion missed.  Adam Morris then made the yards before giving the ball on to Lovett who made a basketball pass to Cadywould and he scampered in under the posts converting his own try.

 

Sloppy Eagles defence then allowed Vikings their second try of the game from Andrew Charlesworth, Bellamy kicking the conversion, but the Eagles determination prevented them having any further score.

 

From the kick off, Paul Flower made distance before being tackled.  The ball then went swiftly along the line to Fayter for his 2nd try wide out, but the conversion failed.

 

On 20 minutes, McCarthy and Saeck made the yards before Morgan took the ball on and weaved his way through to touchdown under the posts, Cadywould adding the extras.

 

From the re-start, Saeck took the ball across the field to Adam Morris, on to Fayter and then back across to Cadywould for his 6th try of the day over in the corner but the goal kick went wide.

On the half hour on the 4th tackle the ball was played out to Morris for a fine solo touchline run and a try in the corner.  Morris stepped up and kicked his own conversion.

 

The last play of the game saw Frederic Marty make a fine interception and pick up the ball from the Eagles 10 metre line to run up the center of the field.  With Flower and Nick Smith in hot pursuit  and referee Ian Waters following at pace, Marty made a splendid dive over the line Cadywould kicking the extras to give the Eagles a 74 – 12 victory and their place in the Cup Final.

 

There was sterling defence from Man of the Match Westlake and Joe Perkins, 9 tries from Cadywould and a good all round team performance on the day showed an excellent display of running rugby.

Next Saturday sees the Eagles in league action at home against Exeter Centurions, kick off 12 noon.

Eagles Tries:  Westlake, Cadywould (6) Turton, Fayter (2) Morgan (2) Morris, Marty
Conversions:  Cadywould (8)  Morris (1)