Saturday, January 16
Crediton 6
Wellington 18
WELLINGTON proved just why they are top of the league with a deserved victory at the Blagdon ground.
However, we can only have ourselves to blame after gifting the Somerset side a couple of tries in the space of two minutes and which swung the game in the visitors' favour.
The first hour was as tight as it could get with play seldom reaching the '22' s.
Wellington had two penalty opportunities in the opening 10 minutes but both pots at goal drifted wide and it was down to winger Ross Gillon to get the score board moving after 15 minutes when he landed a penalty as Wellington were caught offside.
The game was nip and tuck as defences cancelled each other out but a Robin Trott penalty levelled the score on 34 minutes when we were down to 14 men after Gillon had been yellow carded.
The second period saw us take the game to Wellington in the early stages and another Gillon penalty put us ahead.
The turning point came when Crediton were allowed an advantage from an infringement and a clever chip kick through looked to have put winger Matt Shapland in for a try.
Unfortunately, as soon as the ball was kicked the whistle brought play back for a scrum in our favour.
A decision which surprised both sets of players and supporters alike as Shapland actually won the race to the ball to touch down.
The visitors began to get the upper hand and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts.
Assuming the kick for goal would be taken, a number of players were caught napping with backs to the ball and when it was quickly taken and fly-half Matt Parsons raced in for an easy try.
Directly from the restart, Parsons put a long raking kick to the corner and a mix-up in the Crediton defence saw visiting winger Konrad Breeze hack through and win the chase to touch down. Parsons landed the conversion.
Parsons landed a penalty in the dying moments to complete a hard earned victory and few would argue that they deserved it.
Wellington had certainly improved up front from our previous encounter and seem to have recruited well.
They certainly looked better organised outside especially in the second half when their substitutions proved very effective.
Two tries in two minutes were precisely the difference between the sides and such lapses in concentration will no doubt be addressed.
Hornets
Devon Merit Table
Three N E
Topsham Seconds 5
Crediton Thirds 41
Crediton Thirds loaned their hosts all their replacements in order that the game went ahead with even numbers.
The forwards laid a firm foundation for victory but the backs grabbed all the glory by scoring all the points.
Fly-half Mark Allder was on fire and indeed the fire brigade were almost called out as he scorched in for three tries.
Centre Simon Saunders grabbed two and there was one apiece for centre Blueboy Hachipuka, winger Sam Matthews and full-back Barney Butterfield.
Allder and Butterfield each landed a conversion.
JACK HAYES
The club will be holding a memorial evening for our former Chairman, President and Life member Jack Hayes on Friday, January 29 starting at 7.30pm.
Jack was a legendary character and servant of Crediton RFC for in excess of 50 years.
Jack had always expressed a wish to have his ashes scattered at Crediton RFC and this will be carried out on Saturday, January 30 at 1pm.
We are expecting a large crowd to attend both events.
The Club Committee would welcome anyone who knew Jack both through rugby and of course his teaching career in Crediton.
PH