Crediton Youth Rugby

Devon Under 10's Festival

Crediton under 10's had a great day in the sun at Tiverton RFC for this year's Devon under 10's rugby festival.

Victories against Tiverton and Dartmouth, along with a hard fought draw against Newton Abbot, saw Crediton finish third in their group just missing out on a semi-final place.

There was plenty of hard running, fearless tackling and strong rucking as all of the Crediton players put in 100 per cent.

Ben Rodd scored five tries during the tournament, Conrad Saunders scored tree with Danny Martin also crossing the line.

Thank you to the travelling supporters and also to the hosts for putting on such a good, well organised event.

GT

Devon Under 13's

Cup Final

Crediton 14

Barnstaple 12

Team work seals cup for Crediton U13's

The Under 13's travelled to Plymouth Albion's home ground at Brickfields Plymouth for the Devon cup final on a glorious sunny April day.

The very strong Barnstaple team were the pre-match favourites for this all North Devon final that was very well supported by spectators from both clubs.

The day was very well organised by Devon RFU and the match officials did a wonderful job of making it a fine exhibition of rugby and a real credit to all the players from both sides.

Even though Crediton were the under dogs they took the game to Barnstaple in the early exchanges and achieved parity in scrums thanks to excellent work by front row Alex Rodd, Ben Jackson and Will Goodman.

The forward exchanges remained even as the half wore on and this was an area where the Barnstaple side were expecting to get the upper hand.

The back five in the scrum of Dan Vanstone, Matt Twomey, Jamie Mckenzie, Ollie Down and Dan Yendell supported their front row in achieving parity, whilst the Crediton backs always looked dangerous throughout the match.

It was Barnstaple who took the lead from a rare attack the excellent No 8 Nat Bayett crashed over from 10 metres for a converted try to make the half time score 7 – 0 to Barnstaple.

Macauley Lyon had replaced Ben Jackson at half time and their score seemed to be spurring on Barnstaple as they opened up the second half strongly with driving runs through the forwards.

It was a determined Crediton who turned things around with Ollie Avery – Wright at fly half kicking well for territory, thanks to receiving a good ball from Dan John at scrum half.

From one such kick a mistake in the Barnstaple defence allowed full back, Jack Zilch to collect the ball on his own 10 metre line.

He beat several defenders and then sprinted clear to score under the posts for Ollie Avery – Wright to convert and even up the scores at 7 - 7.

Barnstaple came back again and started to run strongly at Crediton and it was good tackling in the mid field by Harry Strong, Matt Rendell, Andrew May and Kieran Vinnicombe that kept them at bay.

Barnstaple pressure then told, as from loose play, they broke dangerously inside the Crediton 22 metre line and from good inter passing scored wide out to lead 12 – 7.

The Crediton team then showed tremendous spirit and helped by replacements, Ed Brady and Ben Stickland, they forced errors from the Barnstaple team.

With seven minutes remaining, Barnstaple looking to seal the win, they ran the ball wide out and had an overlap and looked likely to score.

Jack Zilch, however, read a pass to perfection and intercepted on the half way line.

Once he was a few yards clear he had the Crediton crowd cheering him on as he sprinted to the line for the score.

Ollie Avery – Wright added a difficult conversion to take Crediton into the lead.

Shortly after the re-start Barnstaple were awarded a penalty 35 metres out and the Crediton supporters held their breath as the kick went narrowly wide.

From then on the Crediton team showed remarkable maturity and stamina to hold the game in the midfield and deny Barnstaple any other scoring opportunity and to record a memorable cup triumph.

Tries: Jack Zilch (2)

Conversions: Ollie Avery – Wright (2)

MG