NEWTON Abbot RFC’s slender hopes of avoiding relegation from South West Two were snuffed out by a 55-17 defeat against Tiverton in front of a shirt-sleeved crowd at Rackerhayes.

Firm conditions under foot suited Tiverton’s running game, which produced the first of nine tries, four minutes into proceedings.

Tail-enders Newton Abbot were playing for survival – only a win would keep them up, and even that might not have been enough – and they gave it everything they had in a losing cause.

This result puts Western Counties rugby back on the agenda for the All Whites next season after three terms a level up.

Local rivals Teignmouth stayed out of the bottom two by winning at Winscombe, which sent Truro down with Newton Abbot.

Newton Abbot have never finished out of the bottom three since they were promoted into South West Two as part of a re-organisation of divisions at the end of the 2021-22 season. A record of just 11 league wins in 66 starts suggests the change of scenery won’t do the All Whites any harm.

Supporters – especially the sizeable cohort of ex-players at this match – are already looking forward to the return of league derbies against old adversaries Paignton and Torquay Athletic next season.

Newton were 29-0 down just before halftime when Jack Sealey burrowed over from close range and Tom Steer kicked the goal points.

Tiverton had extended their lead to 34-7 when second-row Alex Parrot ploughed over from close range.

Sealey was driven over in the middle of a massed-ranks maul from a line-out for his second and Newton’s third try.

At the other end of the table, it was Topsham who led the way, surpassing the 100-point mark thanks an impressive record of 21 victories and just one defeat.