AGAINST Torquay and with a few more players back from injury, the 13-14 home defeat could have been very different.

The Tics took an early lead with a try wide out, converted for a 7-0 advantage. They doubled the lead when an excellent touchline kick was chased by their winger and a very fortunate bounce took out the covering defender, landing neatly into the hands of the Torquay winger who galloped in under the posts, the try was again converted.

We did hit back with two Mark Lee penalties before the interval to leave us eight points adrift.

The second half was totally dominated by us and while we got a try back after some good handling by the forwards put flanker Josh Pearce in under posts, Lee converted to bring the deficit down to a single point.

We continued to put pressure on but their well-organised defence kept us at bay.

There were penalty opportunities that could have won the game but all went narrowly wide.

The biggest problem however is the lack of lineout possession, this has been a recurring theme throughout the opening five games. Without doubt, had we won even 50 per cent of our own lineouts against Torquay and previously at Wellington and Devonport, we would, I am sure, have registered three wins from the opening five games.

We have the lineout jumpers but there is a distinct lack of accuracy with the throwing in, an aspect of the game that must be worked on.

The driving maul has been the bedrock for much of our try scoring in the past few seasons and the lineout is where much of them start.Get that right and the wins will come.

QUINS

The Seconds travelled to Paignton in their first away fixture of the season in Devon Merit Table One and got off to a poor start conceding two penalties in the opening 10 minutes. The home side added to their tally when their skilfull backs created an opening for their winger to score a converted try.

Crediton pressure eventually paid off when a catch and drive off a lineout was touched down by hooker Dan Yendall.

Paignton responded almost immediately when their big centre powered his way through for another converted try.

They then followed this up with a third try just before the interval to take a 27-5 lead at the break.

Crediton made a few adjustments at half-time and started the second half with a lot more intent. Within 10 minutes of the restart they got their second try when Dave Rich got the final touchdown following a good driving maul from the Crediton pack.

Ten minutes later Crediton produced another strong driving maul off line-out ball and this time Wayne Reed was on-hand to touch down, with Tom Ronchetti adding the extras.

Crediton were now working hard to reduce the deficit but the Paignton defence was very well-organised and solid.

It was Paignton who got the final score of the game when a Crediton player infringed in a ruck and their kicker, who had been very consistant all afternoon, converted the penalty to make the final score 30-17 to Paignton.

HORNETS

The Third Fifteen have found life much more difficult this season having lost their opening three Merit Table games, 19-29 at home to Plymstock Seconds. It was a competitive performance against a side with considerable experience.

Against Torquay Seconds last Saturday, it was in all honesty a total mis-match as the 0-94 scoreline would suggest.

The Torquay officials however were very complimentary in that we never gave up, heads didn’t drop and we took defeat on the chin. This is a very much changed Torquay side from last season, indeed at times they struggled to raise a team and the fact that with so many injuries and non availabilities currently being suffered at Crediton, it is amazing that we got a Third Fifteen out especially to travel to Torquay.

COLTS

The Colts lost a friendly against Exeter by a single point and hopefully will have learned the lesson of taking points when they are on offer.

A penalty in front of the posts when you are leading 21-15 would put the team two scores ahead.

It was decided to go for the lineout and gain a try, the ploy failed and the Exeter side came away with a converted try at the death.

In their league game against Barnstaple, the Colts gave a really good account of themselves before going down 10-14.

Most of the side are first-year Colts and there is no reason why they should not be challenging for a trophy later in the season.

On paper the results of the last couple of weeks don’t make pretty reading. However with more players gradually returning from injury, things will surely improve.

Paul Harris