CREDITON 43

TIVERTON 0

BOTH sets of supporters left the ground after this match with a feeling of surprise about the outcome of the game.

Certainly the home support would have been happy with a win of any description but such an emphatic victory was beyond any wildest hopes!

Tivvy, on the other-hand, whilst gracious in defeat, were no doubt stunned by the scoreline, having been outplayed in all departments and even further, disappointed by their inability to put any points on the board.

The visitors dominated the early stages and had they been less exuberant and simply built their score, they could have been ahead by 12 points within the first quarter, as their host conceded penalties.

Indeed, it was against the run of play that Crediton grabbed two tries, the first from No. 8 Mark Nott from a scrum, after Tiverton fumbled a massive clearance kick from Crediton fly-half Mark Lee.

A pushover try resulted and Lee added the extras.

Tiverton struck back immediately and a good handling move almost produced a try down the right flank but the home defence denied them.

With the visitors piling on the pressure, a loose ball was pounced on by home centre Tom Foan and he romped away to score at the posts from 70 metres. Again Lee added the extras.

That really knocked the stuffing out of Tiverton and from there on in there was only one side in it.

The home pack, which had proved so dominant throughout, laid the foundation for prop Dan Manns to get the next score and right on half time, it was Foan who started and finished the move to earn the Crediton bonus point.

Tiverton struggled from here on in but in centre Jeff Robinson and flanker Rob Plume they had two players always prepared to take the game to Crediton.

Sadly from their perspective, their efforts were in vain and with confidence growing, Crediton turned on the style.

Scrum-half Mike Pearce dashed in down a vacant blind side to add to the lead, Lee once again converting from the touchline.

Next was the tireless flanker, Sam Rowe, who tackled and supported throughout and received just reward to find himself at the end of a flowing move. He still had to dodge a couple of tackles before touching down.

The final try came from winger Jake Weedon, again from a flowing passing move, for a try in the right corner.

This was the performance that all Crediton supporters have been awaiting all season and timely though it was, it has left most people wondering why we are in such a position in the league table?

Safety is all but assured and the prospects for next season are, to say the least, hopeful.

It is a very young side which will improve with each game. Such a pity that performances like this did not occur earlier in the season.

Certainly, both sides can look forward to next season with some confidence, provided they have strength in depth.

From an historical point of view, this was the highest margin of victory in a Crediton v Tiverton game since fixtures first began in 1882.

In total, Crediton have won 72 games, Tiverton 71 and 14 drawn.

Crediton Hornets 41

Tiverton Thirds 15

The Hornets overcame their Tiverton counterparts for the second successive week, in an entertaining game.

Full-back Steve Cockroft scored two cracking tries through sheer pace.

Winger Richard Brockway grabbed one try as did centre Rowan Locke, outside-half Sam Miller, second row Joe Rogers and hooker Barny Butterfield.

Surprisingly, the conversions were shared by the forwards, Butterfield with two and Rogers one.

Crediton Colts 62

Brixham 12

The Colts bounced back from their defeat at Tavistock with a resounding win at home against Brixham.

Centre Julian Dupree grabbed a hat-trick of tries, fly-half Ed Marshall dotted down twice and there was one apiece for Asher Brindley, Doug John, Macauley Jones, Ieuan Evans and Jake Clarke and Doug John added six conversions.

PH