THE pressure is on Newton Abbot to get a result on Saturday in the South West Two basement tussle with Truro.

Rock-bottom Newton have to get past Truro, then Teignmouth, on the way to safety – and are already six points behind the Cornishmen and seven adrift of the Teigns.

The All Whites were 43-18 losers at St Clements Hill earlier in the season but have tightened up defensively since then.

Having given Cullompton a scare last time out – the Stafford Park outfit nicked a 29-25 win – All Whites have every reason to fancy their chances of a home victory over a side that’s only won once since beating Newton in mid-October.

Newton Abbot made Cullompton work hard for their win at Rackerhayes first time round – and the scoreline in the Stafford Park re-match hints at a similar game.

It was all square on 12-all at half time, but Cullompton pulled away in the second spell to go 29-17 ahead.

Newton got into double bonus point territory with a late penalty try but ran out of time to find a winning score.

Cullompton winger Sam Gibbs bagged two tries and was joined on the scoresheet by flanker Jack Grandfield and second-row Rob Luxon. In tricky conditions for kicking, Josh Luxon converted three tries and also put over a penalty.

As well as the penalty try, hooker Jack Sealey claimed a try hat-trick for Newton Abbot – all from driving mauls. Tom Steer converted two out of three.

Newton Abbot Spartans meanwhile were in action at Rackerhayes but their result was far from close, suffering a fairly one-sided defeat.

Crediton 2nd XI were the visitors and they returned home with a big win under their belt, having beaten the Spartans 55-12.

In that same division, Devon Two, New Cross suffered a blow to their promotion hopes when they lost 12-5 at North Tawton.

The Kingsteignton side went into the game joint top on points with Crediton Quins, but from two more games played.

Crediton are now five points ahead thanks to a 46-10 pasting of Newton Abbot Spartans, and need to start losing their games in hand if New Cross are going to catch them.

Tim Marshall, the New Cross team manager, described North Tawton as ‘one of the toughest places to go on the first weekend in January’. But that was not the reason his side lost.

“It was a pretty even contest throughout,” said Marshall.

“Both teams scored a try each - Julian Hull scored ours – but North Tawton took their chances from tee and that was the difference between the two sides.

New Cross are at home to Okehampton 2nd XV this Saturday whilst Newton Spartans have two away games to look forward to close out January, visiting Cullompton 2nd XI on the 11th and Sidmouth 2nd XI on the 25th, both of who are ahead of them in the current standings.