Under 14's

CREDITON 29

IVYBRIDGE 15

FOLLOWING the two minutes' silence to mark Remembrance Sunday, the first round of this year's Devon Cup was played at the riverside pitch in Crediton.

Ivybridge are undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in the county so Crediton knew that this would be a hard fought game. Even more so after the visitors took an early lead with a try in the corner.

Ivybridge pressed forward with good running from their backs, but Kirton weathered the storm and No 8, George Stone, worked hard to win a lineout ball in the visitors 22.

In the maul that followed, the ball was shipped to lock, Danny Martin, who powered his way over the line to bring the scores level.

However, the pendulum of power was to swing again, with Ivybridge regaining the lead following an effective back move.

It was flanker, Lewis Terry,?who brought the scores level again when, following a tap penalty, he broke through Ivybridge's defensive line to touch down, with centre, Barrie Karea,?bagging the conversion.

The second half started well for Crediton with winger, David Gray,?taking high balls kicked out of defence and hooker, Owen Twigg,?taking a strike against the head.

Lewis Terry, now playing in the centre, again picked his way through the defence to set up a maul on the Ivybridge try-line.

Ever-present Stone was on-hand to break free?with the ball to score.

Ivybridge responded quickly to stay in touch with a try after they spread the ball wide from a tapped penalty.

But from the restart Karea was able to regain the ball and run in to score a try himself.

As the game moved into the final quarter the visitors piled on the pressure and it was strong tackling by the likes of fly-half Callum Vanstone and prop Rob Lancaster that kept them at bay.

As Ivybridge pushed again deep into Crediton territory the ball broke loose and winger Abe Dellamuro??was able to fly hack on.

He won the foot race with some deft footballing skills and was able to drop on the ball before it went dead to secure the win. ?

Karea rounded off the scoring with the conversion.

A nail-biting, yet entertaining, game and we now look forward to the second round draw.

GT