Winscombe secured a draw at Wiveliscombe thanks to a hat-trick of tries by prop Adam Scrase.

Wiveliscombe 21 pts

Winscombe 21 pts

WINSCOMBE prop Adam Scrase scored a hat-trick of tries in the second half to snatch a draw against Wiveliscombe.

Wiveliscombe took the lead after just two minutes with a penalty. Playing up the hill and against the wind, Winscombe defended well with Niall Dunkley, Steve Pugh, Callum Stewart, Lewis Popadec and James Flower to the fore.

The hosts increased the lead with a try in the corner and just before the break, Wiveliscombe took advantage of stolen line-out ball to score two more tries and another penalty to lead 21-0.

Winscombe were straight on the attack in the second half with Stewart getting to within five metres of the goal line and were awarded a penalty. Ford secured possession for Adam Scrase to barge over for a try, converted by Pugh.

A quickly taken penalty five metres out after the pack had driven a line-out 30 metres gave Howell the chance to put Scrase in for his second try. Pugh’s conversion from the touchline was crucial to the outcome.

With 22 minutes remaining and Winscombe more secure at the set piece, a comeback was on the cards, but it was injury time before they scored again.

In the meantime Wiveliscombe failed with two penalty attempts and their outside-half nearly scored a solo try from halfway, but was just beaten to the touchdown by Jim Merryfield.

With the clock running down, Winscombe failed to keep their composure in their desperation to score, but eventually Merryfield, Owen Howell and Flower made ground in midfield.

When the ball was lost, the pack wheeled the scrummage to turn over the ball and were awarded a penalty at the breakdown. Flower took it quickly to sent in Scrase for the prop’s hat-trick. Pugh’s conversion tied the scores.