Mixed fortunes for teams - they can all learn from mistakes

Teignnmouth 0

CREDITON were made to battle hard against a resilient Teignmouth side but in the end ran out comfortable winners. The game was held up for 25 minutes after a serious injury to home hooker Shane Bayley, just one minute into the game.

From the restart, Crediton showed their strength in the scrum and Teigns had a torrid time in that department all afternoon.

However, despite dominating territory and possession all the home side had to show for their efforts in the first quarter was a Rob Milton penalty after the Teignmouth backs were caught offside.

Midway through the first half, a well-worked move down the left touchline with good support play involving forwards and backs saw home wing Jordan Pring force his way through for the first try.

Ten minutes later, Teigns lost their own put in at a scrum 10 metres out and Crediton No 8 George Savage was held up but managed to offload to veteran flanker John Adams, who crept over from a metre out.

Continued home pressure eventually brought another try as prop Rob May picked up from a ruck and attacked the blind side before shipping inside to scrum half Dave Rich who raced in under the posts to give Milton a simple conversion.

Two minutes later, Savage grabbed a pushover try and again Milton landed the extras courtesy of the post.

The scoring was rounded off when replacement scrum half Adam Wright was driven over the line to touch down. Undoubtedly Crediton could have made better use of some of the other chances that came their way but most importantly it was a win and it is a few years since they have won the first league game of the season.

Teignmouth worked hard and defended well but were ultimately seen off in the final quarter.

'Quins

Okehampton Seconds 21

Crediton 'Quins 19

The 'Quins returned bitterly disappointed from their defeat at Okehampton in their opening Merit Table fixture of the season. It seems all the hard work had been done to secure the victory but as so often is the case, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory in the dying moments.

Whether it was due to a lack of concentration or simply an assumption that the game was won – the players will have to remember that the game lasts a full 80 minutes. Sean Hughes, Jonny Butt and Tom Ronchetti grabbed the tries with Dan Howard landing two conversions.

Colts

Taunton Colts 30

Crediton Colts 0

The colts put on a decent display against Taunton U19's who, in the end, proved too strong but against a side a year older they should not be too disappointed.

Bideford 17

Crediton 10

This was our fifth successive defeat against Bideford and regrettably we seem not to have learned the lessons of last season.

It was always reckoned that if you denied opponents possession or at least disrupted what possession they gained then, in theory, you should win the game.

The last three games against Bideford and indeed a number of other games last season, we totally dominated the opposition forwards and yet ended up losing. There is certainly a recurring theme here that needs addressing.

The game followed the same pattern as the opening league game last season even to the point that the Bideford opening try came from a charge down, the players must certainly have felt a sense of "déjà vu"!

It is of course early days and there are another 24 league games to go and it is important that we return to winning ways against Falmouth.

'Quins

Crediton 'Quins 52

Bideford Seconds 0

The 'Quins ran up a big score against their Bideford opponents dominating all aspects of the game. At the time of writing the scorers were not known.

HORNETS

Crediton Hornets 38

Bideford Thirds 0

The Hornets opened their Merit Table campaign with a comprehensive victory over Bideford. The back row of Steve Geatches, Tim Garner (back on a brief visit from Oz) and Andy Govier were impressive despite their combined age passing the 130 mark (Steve incidentally bears the brunt of that total) and indeed each of them scored a try.

The highlight was undoubtedly skipper Ade Peirce's chip over the Bideford defence which initially looked wild to say the least but an extraordinary kind bounce saw him collect and carry the ball over for a spectacular try. Scott Baker and Andy Griffiths completed the try scoring with Ashley Wonnacott landing three conversions and Scot Baker one.

Crediton 16

Falmouth 0

Crediton gained a fourth successive victory over a Falmouth side much improved from last season.

If anyone had thoughts on repeats of last season's victories, they were soon dismissed as Falmouth applied all the early pressure and for the first quarter Crediton seldom had control of the ball.

Crediton began to get more into the game and a period of sustained pressure earned a penalty which fly-half Rob Milton slotted over.

The Falmouth scrum was struggling to cope with the Crediton eight but throughout they did stick to their task. Lock forward, Ashley Searle, was yellow carded for an alleged stamping incident and during his absence, Crediton increased their lead with another Milton penalty.

They also felt that a try had been scored from a driving maul but the referee felt unable to give it. Flanker Chris McColl was also binned for handling in the ruck, a decision which was to have repercussions later in the game.

The second half was all Crediton but there seemed no way through a determined defence and whilst it remained a 6-0 there was always the chance of a breakaway try.

The turning point came when Falmouth No 8 Tom David was yellow carded again the offence being hands in the ruck. It was a total surprise to all that he then received a red card, this being the second "team" offence after a general warning had been given.

Certainly it was a harsh decision and even the most ardent of home supporters had considerable sympathy for the player.

Shortly after, the Crediton pressure told and another driving maul saw hooker Bobby Mogford get the touch down in the corner.

The last word went to Crediton winger Matt Shapland who was on the end of a good threequarter move to touch down in the corner.

Crediton 16

Exeter Saracens 20

Crediton can have no complaints with this defeat at the hands of newly promoted Exeter Saracens. The visitors were worthy winners and had they made better use of their penalty opportunities the margin of victory would have been wider.

As it was they entered the final minute in arrears 16-13. Sarries played all the rugby and gave an object lesson in taking chances. It all looked so different in the early stages when we looked capable of creating gaps in their defence but as it was we ended the first half with a 6-0 advantage courtesy of two penalties from fly-half Rob Milton.

The second period sprung to life when visiting centre Sam Gooch fielded an aimless kick deep in his own half. There appeared no apparent danger for the home side but gaps opened up and Gooch took on the defence and ran 40 metre to put No 8 Matt Davies in for a try.

Within minutes, full-back Dean Chisling put the visitors ahead with a penalty, having missed three easier attempts, he banged this one over from the half-way line.

Sarries grew in confidence and it seemed only one side would be the likely winners and when winger Ben Croft went over in the corner, the home side looked dead and buried.

However Crediton sprang to life and a succession of penalties on the Sarries line resulted in hooker Bobby Nogford being forced over from a driving maul, Milton landing the conversion. With minutes remaining, Milton put Crediton ahead with a penalty.

In the final minute however Sarries never say die attitude paid off as Ben Light found space in a Crediton defence to force his way over, Chisling converted for a deserved victory.

If it is our aim to be in the promotion mix at the end of the season then these are games we should be winning.

For the first time this season we did not enjoy total domination up front and as a consequence seemed to run out of ideas. The lineout did not function as it should although things did improve in that department as the game went on.

It is of course very easy to be critical, every player gave 100 per cent. These are good quality players who are more than capable of beating everyone else in the league. It is a question of learning from mistakes and putting things right on the training pitch.

A bit of practice on the restart kicks would help as in general they were too deep during this game and provided Sarries with a platform to run the ball back with relative ease.

All of this will come and we have to be patient.

'Quins

 Exeter Saracens Seconds 28

Crediton Quins 35

An end-to-end battle saw the lead change hands of several occasions and there is no more important time than the final minute to nose ahead as happened for Sarries in the First Fifteen game.  

However, it was a Mark Gulley try converted by Dan Howard that gave the 'Quins a hard earned win.

Winger Jake Weedon followed up his try hat-trick of the previous week with another two and John Adams grabbed the fourth.

Howard landed another two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal to complete the scoring.

HORNETS

Exeter Saracens Thirds 7

Crediton Hornets 17

Full-back Ashley Wonnacott proved the match winner in this contest with two tries and a conversion which keeps the winning momentum going for the Hornets. Centre Scott Mills scored the other try.

COLTS

Crediton Colts 51

Exeter Saracens 8

The Colts got their first Merit Table win of the season with a comfortable win against a plucky Exeter Saracens.

Such a big score did not look on the cards when the sides were tied at 8-all in the opening quarter but once the Crediton side got on top the tries came at regular intervals.

Nathan Ronchetti grabbed two and there was one apiece for Tom Foan, Rory Huxtable, George Greenwood, Sam Philips, Abe Beale, Sam Rowe and Henry Gavin. Foan landed two conversions and Jack Hookway one.

Forthcoming fixtures:

October 3: Wellington v Crediton First Fifteen; Torquay Seconds v Crediton 'Quins; Crediton Hornets v Topsham Seconds; Honiton Colts v Crediton Colts.

October 10: Crediton First Fifteen v Hayle; Crediton 'Quins v Tiverton Seconds; Tiverton Thirds v Crediton Hornets; Tiverton Colts v Crediton Colts.

JACK HAYES

Club members and indeed rugby followers throughout the region were saddened to learn of the death of former President Jack Hayes (commonly known to all as JCH) at the age of 92.

Jack was a wonderful servant not only to Crediton RFC but also to the Schools Rugby Union.

He began life at Crediton as Press Officer whilst teaching at Hayward's School back in 1952. He continued in that role for over 40 years and combined it with the Chairmanship 1975-77 and President from 1986-9,7 when he was made a Life Member of the Club.

Jack was much loved by all who knew him, he had such an engaging personality and an astute knowledge of the game of rugby which showed through in his reporting.

As one who meets many rugby followers throughout the county, I was often asked: "How's Jack, these days?" – it will be a huge sadness to report his passing to the many who knew and respected him.

We all have our own fond memories of Jack and he will be greatly missed.

Our condolences go to his family and of course his many friends.

PH