Saturday, January 25

OPM 34

CREDITON 15

OLD Plymouthian and Mannamedian's belied their lowly position with a strong performance to out-muscle visiting Crediton whose performance, to say the least, was hugely disappointing.

The home pack had a huge size advantage and made sure that superiority counted in the scrum and line-out and generally denied Crediton much in the way of possession.

The strong wind going straight up the pitch favoured the visitors in the first half but they were unable to gain any advantage from it.

The home side took the lead with a penalty but Tom Ronchetti levelled midway through the half.

OPM kept the ball in hand and defended comfortably against anything Crediton had to offer.

They then took the lead when full-back, Tom Finnie, was put into space on the wing and scorched home under the posts. He then landed the conversion.

The second half saw Crediton hit back strongly and flanker, Chris Hooper, forced his way over from a driving maul.

That was as good as it got and despite what seemed a perfectly good Josh Lee try being disallowed, the rest of the game belonged to the home side who ran in a further four tries.

Mark Nott did grab a consolation try at the end which Ronchetti converted but it was too little too late.

Crediton 'Quins 24 Exeter Engineers 17

The 'Quins entertained Exeter University Engineers who arrived for the friendly with a very large squad of players.

Injuries and unavailabilities had deprived the 'Quins of a number of players and they were down to the bare 15.

However, they started strongly and it soon became apparent that the Crediton side held the upper-hand in the forward exchanges, although the students always looked dangerous in open play where they showed a lot of pace.

Crediton took the lead within 10 minutes when good pressure in the Engineers' 22 metres area produced several phases of play which ended with Nathan Jackson going over in the corner for an unconverted try.

This was quickly followed by another Crediton try as a result of further pressure, this time on the engineers try-line where the Crediton pack were held up over the line but forced a five metre scrum.

The home pack drove the Engineers back over their try-line for Ed Marshall to get the touch down for a try which was converted by Gareth Kinch.

With a very strong wind blowing sideways across the pitch, both sides found it difficult to gain any advantage by kicking, so any territory gained had to be worked hard for.

The Engineers proved how dangerous they could be when, after considerable Crediton pressure, the Engineers intercepted a pass and ran in a try from their own 22 which went unconverted.

The next score was always going to be crucial and Crediton made sure it was theirs.

A good line break deep into the Engineers half set up the forwards, who carried strongly up to the Engineers try-line where a strong driving maul saw Paul Turner get the touch down for a try, which was converted by Gareth Kinch, making the half-time score 19-5 to Crediton.

The students made numerous changes in the second half and played with a lot more tempo and aggression forcing Crediton onto the back foot.

The pressure resulted in two quick tries, both of which were well set up with the ball being won in midfield and then being moved quickly out wide for both scores to be made in the corner, one of which was converted.

The visitors were going all out for a winning score but the 'Quins defended superbly and ultimately had the final say and once again it came from their forwards.

Crediton eventually broke free of defence and cleared well into the students half, the forwards once again set up a powerful driving maul forcing the students over their own try-line for Kevin Ellis to get the touch down for an unconverted try.

The students came back strongly but the Crediton players were not going to let their lead slip and defended solidly until the final whistle giving them a 24-17 victory.

Crediton Hornets 7 South Molton

Seconds 17

With their First Fifteen not playing, South Molton brought a strong side down for the Merit Table fixture with the table topping Hornets.

South Molton proved too strong but the Hornets battled well and were rewarded with a Jules Williams try, converted by Andrew Pennington.

They still maintained their position at the top of the Merit Table.

Kingsbridge

Colts 24

Crediton Colts 3

Crediton Colts left themselves with much to do in the second leg of this Devon Colts Cup if they are to overturn the 21 point deficit.

Kingsbridge made full use of their powerful pack but the game was always in the balance until the final few minutes when the hosts grabbed an important try.

PH