Ivybridge are on the road this weekend as they travel to Bristol side Old Redcliffians in what should be a hard-fought affair writes Tim Leigh.

Both teams are level on 22 points in the National League Three South West table, with Old Reds one place above Ivybridge in second thanks to a superior points difference.

Ivybridge will know they are in for a battle but must go into the game full of confidence after beating derby rivals Newton Abbot in stunning fashion in their last game.

Ivybridge were nine points down with 75 minutes played against the All Whites, but managed to score two tries at the death to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Spectators at Ivybridge’s home of Cross-in-Hand knew that this was going to be tense affair as a reasonably low-key first half saw the home side hold a single-point lead at the break thanks to three Billy Pinkus penalties, 9-8.

The only try of the game had been scored by Newton’s Kyle Browne, but their kicker Rob Avery-Wright missed the conversion, though he did slot a penalty.

However, Ivybridge looked in serious trouble as the visitors came out all guns blazing at the start of the second period, scoring twice through that man Browne again and Jack Bond. Avery-Wright knocked over one of the conversions to leave the Bridge with an 11-point deficit at 9-20.

the home side knew they had to score next and did so through an effort in the corner from Dingle, but Pink­us couldn’t slot the difficult conversion and Ivybridge were still six points behind.

With just over 10 minutes left on the clock, Avery-Wright looked like he had put the game to bed with a monster penalty to leave the Bridge needing two scores to win.

With fewer than five minutes on the clock, Lewis Paterson gave the home side hope when he finished off a slick move, but with time running out the smart money would still have been on the visitors.

However, with the All Whites choosing to put the ball deep rather than contest the restart, Ivybridge patiently built the phases.

The man who broke New­ton Abbot hearts was scrum-half Ben Watts, who went over under the posts to spark the celebrations.