Saturday, October 24

HAYLE 13

CREDITON 37

THE First Fifteen recorded their biggest ever victory on the Hayle ground in a game that began slowly but eventually ended in a flourish to earn a bonus point.

Hayle dominated territory in the opening minutes but were unable to break the Crediton defence. Indeed Crediton were the first to get points on the board with a Mark Lee penalty.

Within two minutes the lead was extended with a try from deep as they turned over possession and the flowing move ended with fly-half Rob Milton touching down and Lee converting.

As half-time approached, Hayle reduced the arrears with a penalty but Lee responded with another to restore the 10 point advantage at the interval.

With the slope against in the second half and the home side posing a threat, the slender advantage looked vulnerable and indeed Hayle again reduced the deficit to seven points with a 45th minute penalty but again Lee cancelled that one out with his third of the game.

Hayle lacked discipline and had a player sin binned which effectively handed the initiative to Crediton.

Milton made an excellent break to open up the Hayle defence and provide No 8 Gav Best with a try which Lee converted.

Crediton turned the screw and only desperate Hayle defence kept them at bay but eventually the opportunity came when the ball went loose and scrum-half Mike Pearce was the quickest to react as he dived on it to get the third try, again Lee converted.

That effectively was game set and match but the home side responded and put pressure on the Crediton line.

However, the Crediton defence turned over possession and counter attacked from their own line and ended with a superb try for Milton to earn the bonus point, Lee converted, yet again.

The home side had the last word with a consolation try from a driving maul.

CREDITON 'QUINS 29

TIVERTON SECONDS 10

The 'Quins gained their third consecutive Merit Table victory with a well-deserved win against Tiverton Seconds.

Both sides battled for supremacy throughout the first half and a pretty dour struggle was punctuated by the occasional highlight as defences were well on top.

One of the highlights came after Crediton pressure in the Tivvy "22" and fly-half James Goodman exploited a gap to race over from 15 metres, with centre Stuart Pickard converting.

The second half was an altogether better performance from both sides but it was the 'Quins that managed to raise the tempo and were rewarded after a period of pressure forced Tivvy into conceding a penalty which Pickard converted.

That seemed to be the spur to give the Crediton boys a little more confidence as they tried to get more width into their play and again forced Tivvy into mistakes and scrum-half Dan Lewis picked up the loose ball and scampered away for a try.

Tiverton bounced back and began to threaten the home defence and were eventually rewarded with a try from a catch and drive which Crediton were unable to defend.

This was followed by a penalty and suddenly there were only five points in it.

The Crediton pack began to dominate and more pressure on the Tiverton defence caused them to spill the ball and lock Cam Huxtable dived on it for a try which Pickard converted.

The best try of the game was the last and came five minutes from time.

The 'Quins played through several phases with some excellent offloads and support play, keeping the ball alive before young centre Sam Harris jinked his way through to score.

Pickard added the extras for an excellent win.

CREDITON HORNETS 17

EXETER ENGINEERS 10

The Hornets put in a superb performance to get the better of a very strong Engineers side in a hugely entertaining game.

With the advantage of the slope, the Hornets gained an early lead with a forwards try from prop Kev Ellis.

The students always looked threatening on the counter attack with some strong running backs.

With no addition to the score before the interval, the general feeling was that a five point advantage would never be enough and indeed the students grabbed two tries to lead 10-5.

They were unable to add to their score as the Hornets defended magnificently and with time running out scored two more tries to grab the win.

Nathan Jackson and Will Jermyn touched down with Gareth Kinch landing the conversion.

Fixtures tomorrow, Saturday, November 1: First Fifteen v Honiton (home); Second Fifteen v Exmouth Seconds (home); Third Fifteen v TBA; Colts v Bideford (away).

PH