TEIGNMOUTH RFC dodged relegation from South West Two thanks to a 22-17 win at Winscombe.

The Teigns were one of three teams – Truro and neighbours Newton Abbot were the others – that went into the final round of fixtures in danger of dropping into Western Counties West.

A 17-0 deficit at half-time meant the signs were ominous but Teignmouth fought back, prop Mat Dowrick the man of the moment who scored the decisive try.

Defeats by Tiverton and Crediton respectively condemned Newton Abbot and Truro to relegation.

Teignmouth’s fifth win of the season was sufficient to keep them up. It was only their second win during a 10-game sequence, a record responsible for keeping them in the bottom three.

Pete Parsons, the Teignmouth captain, said he was ‘relieved and delighted’ to avoid relegation. Looking ahead the target is to avoid another relegation scrap next season.

“Recruitment and encouraging younger players coming through from the colts to stick around is a must,” said Parsons.

Winscombe went ahead with a try from a line-out maul. Robust tackling by Jordan Hellier then Jamie Gray kept the Somerset side out of range until they attacked from a scrum and scored.

Pack power paved the way for Winscombe to claim their third try and add the conversion for a 17-0 lead.

Teignmouth played down the Winscombe slope in the second half and were soon on the board with a Dan Hayward try from a line-out that Jack Mayne converted.

When Winscombe were turned over trying to attack from a scrum, replacement Dan Woolnough counter-attacked and his try was converted by Mayne for a 17-14 deficit. Game on!

Teignmouth tested the Winscombe defence, which coughed up a penalty that Mayne kicked to level it a 17-all.

Dowrick’s winning try followed another turn-over after Winscombe tried and failed to make ground away from their own scrum.

They live to fight another day.