CREDITON 11 - TIVERTON 8

IT took a while for both sides to realise that this was not simply a league fixture upon which points and positions mattered.

Certainly it was a battle of attrition with defences dominating and errors littering a game that was nonetheless entertaining. However, once the “derby” atmosphere took a hold, things became far more interesting.

The opening few minutes looked pretty ominous for the home side as Tiverton went ahead with a try for lock Richard Tucker, who was the beneficiary of a well-worked catch and drive try from a line out.

Tivvy dominated territory and possession for long periods but failed to put away one or two chances that they created.

Whilst Crediton were struggling to get hands on the ball during the first quarter, it soon became apparent that they were far superior in the scrum and the visitors were shoved backwards on almost every occasion.

With conditions as they were, running rugby was always going to be difficult although both sides did attempt to give it a go but ultimately, boot was put to ball in order to gain position, sometimes successfully and others not so.

Having gained the early five point advantage, the visitors were unable to capitalise as the Crediton defence was in great form. However, for 30 minutes the hosts had made only one serious incursion into the Tiverton “22” which came to nought.

The second visit did bring a reward when, from a scrum five metres out, home No 8 Mark Nott touched down from a pushover try. That score seemed to inspire Crediton and a similar effort five minutes later almost produced an identical score but the ball could not be grounded and the stalemate saw both sides all square at the interval.

Crediton started with a bit more aggression in the second half and began to take control but this time it was Tiverton whose defence came to the fore.

Eventually the pressure told and the hosts took the lead with a penalty from fly-half Ollie Avery-Wright after Tiverton were penalised at a ruck.

The score seemed to jolt Tivvy into action and it was their turn to dominate proceedings and they too gained just reward with a penalty from full-back Jimmy Atkins to bring the scores level once again.

Crediton soaked up a bit more pressure before hitting back and the game could have gone either way although Tiverton’s defence was beginning to creak as Crediton forced a couple of five metre scrums.

As expected, the home pack drove their opponents over the line but both efforts went a begging, the first being adjudged held up and the second knocked on.

However, with the game looking like ending in stalemate at 8-8 and with time running out, it was Tiverton who buckled and conceded a penalty on their “22” which Avery-Wright popped over with the final kick of the game.

TIVERTON SECONDS 19 - CREDITON ‘QUINS 5

After a month without rugby Crediton Second Fifteen resumed their Devon Merit One League schedule with a trip to mid-Devon rivals Tiverton Seconds.

Once again a mid-morning cry off and a non arrival forced Crediton into making last minute changes to their side with two back row forwards having to play in the backs.

Crediton were dominating territory although Tiverton were winning the collisions and the battles around the contact areas.

Crediton thought they had opened the scoring on six minutes when a deft chip over the top of the Tiverton defence was chased down by Phil Anning but as he dived on the ball over the Tiverton try-line the referee adjudged that he had knocked the ball on in the process - a decision which was very debatable.

It was Tiverton who broke the deadlock after 17 minutes when their No 8 picked up well from the base of a scrum going backwards and he expertly delayed his pass before putting a support player into a gap to go over for a converted try.

Crediton rallied and after 30 minutes Richard Gray forced his way over the Tiverton try-line but this time the referee judged that there was a Tiverton hand under the ball and no try was given, again another decision to disappoint the ‘Quins.

On 40 minutes Tiverton increased their lead and again it was their No 8 who started the move when he picked up another difficult ball at the base of the scrum to put his backs away and the Tiverton winger went over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Deep into first half injury time Tiverton scored a third try when a Crediton player was penalised for being offside just inside his own half.

Tiverton took a quick tap penalty and went through several phases of play before releasing their backs who went over from close range for a converted try to make the half-time score 19-0 to Tiverton.

Crediton started the second half with more ferocity looking for an early score to get back into the game. This score came after 49 minutes when following a catch and drive off a line-out John Butt was at the back of the maul to touch down for an unconverted try.

Tiverton were defending valiantly and Crediton were finding it hard to break their line but on 59 minutes replacement Rory Huxtable made a storming break from the half-way line but was caught and brought down less than a metre short of touching down under the posts.

Unfortunately this was his last involvement in the game as he sustained a serious leg injury in the tackle and was taken off to hospital.

Although Crediton continued to dominate territory and possession, the Tiverton defence was in excellent form and despite the pressure managed to shut Crediton out to end the game with a 19-5 victory.

A frustrating game for the Crediton side with two scoring chances and a third effort pulled up a metre from the line, these are often the small margins between victory and defeat but also what makes this such a great game to play.

The most important concern of course and one which over-rides the result is the injury to Rory Huxtable, we all wish him a speedy recovery.

CREDITON THIRDS 17 - HONITON SECONDS 14

Crediton Third Fifteen’s won away at Honiton earlier in the season by 64-32 and probably anticipated an easy ride in the return game.

However, Honiton are a much-improved side and made a real fight of this game, which saw the Crediton side scraping home by three points to maintain their position at the top of the Devon Merit Table Two.

Gareth Kinch, Tom Phillips and Tom Smale scored tries with Kinch converting one.

CREDITON COLTS 0 - TEIGNMOUTH COLTS 5

The Colts were dealt a blow to their hopes of reaching the Plate Final as Teignmouth grabbed victory in the last five minutes.

PH