CREDITON 45

PAIGNTON 9

WITH promotion already in the bag, Crediton maintained their push to leave the Cornwall and Devon League as champions with a bonus point win against Paignton.

However, it was not plain sailing as the scoreline would suggest. Despite taking the lead in the fourth minute, courtesy of a try from winger Devon Hosegood, some excellent forward play put the home side ahead.

Paignton got into their stride and had some pace outside and began to ask questions of the Crediton defence.

The Cherries dominated for long periods without breaking through although the pressure told as the hosts were forced into conceding penalties and with a strong breeze behind him, scrum-half John Clare popped over three to put the visitors ahead.

Crediton bounced back and from a line-out 10 metres out set up a driving maul and it was prop Lance Palmer who ended a personal three year scoring drought with the touch down.

With the interval approaching, the Cherries were penalised for failing to release the tackled player and young fly-half Ollie Avery-Wright popped over the penalty.

After a close first half, much of the same was anticipated in the second period but within five minutes Avery-Wright had popped over a couple of penalties to put the hosts 10 points clear.

From there on in, Paignton battled hard but indiscipline at the tackle area cost them dearly. Crediton used the wind to their advantage and kept pegging the visitors back with some raking kicks from both Avery-Wright and full-back Mark Lee.

Paignton returned a kick which winger Mike Pearce collected before Lee put away. His offload to Hosegood was perfectly timed and the winger evaded two tackles to score at the posts, Avery-Wright converting.

Within minutes, it was Hosegood again, completing his hat-trick and gaining the bonus point with a break from 30 metres showing electrifying pace and again Avery-Wright converted.

The Paignton heads were visibly dropping and it was lock Josh Lee who peeled off a maul to canter over for a try and again Avery-Wright added the extras.

The final score was a superb solo effort from Avery-Wright who chipped over the Paignton defence and gathered the ball on half-way to race home with a score out wide. The kick was missed but it was of no consequence.

Over all, a great result against a good Paignton side who should certainly be candidates for promotion next season.

BARNSTAPLE SECONDS 29

CREDITON SECONDS 5

Crediton Seconds travelled to Barnstaple for a tough encounter against a team who have just been confirmed as Devon Merit Table One League champions for the third successive season.

It proved an entertaining game and the 'Quins returned having been beaten but also having earned the plaudits of the home support.

Direct from the first whistle Crediton were on the offensive pushing Barnstaple back into their own "22" putting together several phases.

Only very good defence from the Barnstaple players denied Crediton getting the first points on the board and it took a penalty kick to get Barnstaple out of their own half.

Having been surprised by the early Crediton onslaught, Barnstaple rallied and began to get into their stride and it was now the turn of the Crediton players to defend, which they did with pace and aggression against a physically bigger home team.

The pressure began to tell as Crediton began conceding penalties in the contact area.

Barnstaple kicked for position and from a line-out in the Crediton "22" a knock on produced a scrum for Barum and they pushed the Crediton pack back over their line to score an unconverted try.

The game was still evenly contested with both teams playing some good rugby although defences were on top as each side was denied opportunities to score.

The breakthrough for Barnstaple came after 35 minutes when Crediton had a player sin binned for persistent infringing.

Again finding good field position from the penalty kick the Barnstaple forwards set up a good drive from five metres out and powered over the line for a second unconverted try.

Two minutes later they added to their score when, following a sustained period of pressure, the Barnstaple backs broke through a gap in the Crediton defence and ran in to score a converted try to make the half-time score 17-0 to Barnstaple.

Crediton started the second half as they did the first and were now playing with a strong wind behind them and immediately got into a good attacking position.

Good ball from a line-out produced several phases of play from Crediton and a good line break by centre Jack Usher found Rob Milton up in support to go over for an unconverted try after 45 minutes.

The 'Quins penalty count was increasing as Barnstaple piled on the pressure and a second yellow card reduced the 'Quins to 14 men for the second time in the game.

Barnstaple, once again, kicked into the corner but the Crediton players defended their line well and were really working hard for each other whilst being a man short.

However, when Barnstaple were awarded a scrum five metres from the Crediton line and, being a forward short took its toll and the Barnstaple forwards powered over the Crediton line to score another push over try with the conversion being missed.

Both sides continued to play some very good rugby with each denying each other scoring opportunities with solid defensive play but Barnstaple had the final say during injury time.

Following several phases of play and against a Crediton defence which was now tiring, the Barnstaple centre broke through a gap to score under the posts to make the final score 29-5 to Barnstaple.

This was a very strong team performance by the Crediton players in a game played in front of a large crowd with many spectators saying that the scoreline did not reflect how close the game had been, and also how they enjoyed the game more than the Barnstaple First team game which had preceded it.

It is also testament to the Crediton players to be told by the Barnstaple coaches and also the Barnstaple players that Crediton had been the toughest team they had met all season which indicates the strength in depth we currently have at Crediton and what a good place the club is in at present.

EXMOUTH THIRDS 28

CREDITON THIRDS 7

The Third Fifteen's travelled to Exmouth for a friendly against a side that they will meet in the Merit Table next season.

The Cockles have been inconsistent when it comes to running a Third Fifteen each week but on this occasion they had the assistance of a number of Marines and were a particularly strong side.

On the other hand, we travelled with a few regulars missing and consequently it would be difficult to read too much into the result.

Exmouth were 21 points up at the interval but the second half was much more evenly contested with each side scoring a converted try.

Ben Phillips touched down for the Thirds with Gareth Kinch converting.

PLYMSTOCK COLTS 7

CREDITON COLTS 36

The Colts continued their winning run and edged closer to a place in the Shield final with a comfortable victory at Plymstock.

Tries came from Dan Yendall, Jamie MacKenzie, Bobby Saunders, Ben Jackson, Tom Mortimer and Dan Vanstone.

Ollie Langdon-Wright converted two and Haydon Hill one.

PH