HONITON 10

CREDITON 32

CREDITON certainly learned the lesson that was dished out at Honiton last season - when playing down the slope in the first half, you have to pile on the points.

Honiton know their pitch and play the slope extremely well and if you have not built up a sizeable score you will be punished.

This proved costly last season but this time around Crediton were far more clinical and whilst we did not have much possession in the home half of the pitch during the second period, we had built up a five score advantage before the interval that we were able to protect with relative ease.

The conditions did not help fast flowing rugby but we certainly made the effort and in the opening minutes, Devon Hosegood made a superb break down the right touchline but was bundled into touch 10 metres out.

Once the first try had been scored, on 20 minutes No 8 Mark Nott touching down off a driving maul, four more came at regular intervals during the half.

Hosegood then added a second after a clever chip from hooker Bobby Mogford. The Crediton forwards were beginning to dominate at the scrum and it was not long before Nott grabbed his second try from a pushover.

Left-wing Matt Dayment then grabbed the bonus point try after some good handling and finally full-back Mark Lee went over in the corner.

Ollie Avery-Wright converted two and landed a penalty for good measure for a 32 point lead at half time.

The second half belonged to Honiton as they threw everything at our defence. It took some time to break down the resistance but eventually they were rewarded with a couple of tries.

However, they were really only consolation scores and we certainly never looked like surrendering the advantage that we had built up in the first 40 minutes.

Five games remain and we are now level on points with Saltash and whereas we entertain bottom club Liskeard on Saturday, the Ashes have a difficult task at Withycombe who themselves look almost out of the promotion race some 12 points behind us now after their defeat at Falmouth.

The 'Quins maintained their third place position in Merit Table One with a gruelling hard earned 15-0 victory over Cullompton.

No 8 Paddy Joyce and winger Ollie Down scored the tries with scrum-half Rob Milton adding a conversion and penalty.

The Thirds have taken another step towards the Devon Merit Table Three title and so earn promotion to the next level.

After failing at the final hurdle last season, the players are in no mood to let the opportunity slip through their fingers this time around.

A comprehensive 29-5 victory over Cullompton has put us in a very strong position.

Phill Anning grabbed a hat-trick of tries plus a couple of conversions and there was a try apiece for Jamie Cheffins and Richard Gray.

Fixtures for tomorrow, Saturday, March 7: First Fifteen v Liskeard (home – sponsored by former players); Second Fifteen v Bude (home); Third Fifteen v Sidmouth (away) and Colts v Tavistock (away).