LOCKIE CUP Saltash II...18 Plymouth Argaum...5

A BOGGY Saltash pitch with a strong wind blowing down the field greeted both sides for their Lockie Cup quarter-final.

Saltash started the stronger with their scrum going well. As they developed their driving play, in particular through lock Ryan Gallimore and number eight Ollie Nance, the home side camped out in the Argaum half. And after 10 minutes, they came away with a penalty goal through fly-half Rick Orkney to go 3-0 up.

Saltash, with fine pick and drive work from hooker Mike Coutts, prop Miles Hopkins and Gallimore, were them stopped short of the line by Argaum's last-gasp defence.

From the subsequent scrum, the ball went left and skipper and scrum-half John Forde dived over in the corner for the try, which Orkney converted for a 10-0 lead after 25 minutes.

Saltash continued to maintain the pressure for the rest of the half, but were denied another by the difficult handling conditions.

They made do with an Orkney penalty when they got into the Argaum 22 when a visiting defender found himself offside at the ruck. Saltash were now in a comfortable 13-0 half-time lead.

At the turn around, the visitors rallied and put Saltash under a degree of pressure, frustrating them into mistakes and gaining valuable field position.

The home defence dealt with the situation comfortably and Forde nearly scored when he broke for the line, but was held up just short by the visitors' defence.

However, from the subsequent scrum and line out, Saltash retained possession.

Forde made amends for his earlier miss by scampering over for his second try to virtually seal Saltash's place in the next round, with them leading 18-0 after 70 minutes.

Argaum refused to lie down and die and came back with a final attack late into the game, which saw giant prop Steve Barnes go over for a late consolation try.