CREDITON 35

SALTASH 23

CREDITON’S Jekyll and Hyde performances continued with an excellent display against a free running and exciting Saltash side.

The hosts were in desperate need of a victory of any sort and overcame the visitors in style. Both sides enjoy running with the ball in-hand and perhaps the Ashes edged that aspect of the game as they always looked dangerous with ball in-hand.

However, they did not have a pack of forwards that could deal with the pressure exerted by the Crediton eight.

The simple fact was that the home side had forward momentum throughout and dominated the set piece at both scrum and line-out.

In a seesaw first half, the lead changed hands three times before ending all square at the interval.

Crediton fly-half Ollie Avery-Wright and Saltash full-back Max Venables traded early penalties, with Avery-Wright adding a second on 10 minutes.

Saltash showed just how dangerous they could be when we were penalised for a scrummage offence on the Ashes “22” and they ran the ball very quickly to score a good try before Crediton had time to blink, Venables converted for a 10-6 lead.

Crediton hit back almost immediately and a clever kick ahead by Avery-Wright was messed up by the Ashes defence and Crediton winger Tom Foan was on-hand to scoop up the loose ball to go over in the corner to put us ahead by a point.

The penalty count against both sides was mounting and it was not long before Venables put Saltash ahead again with a penalty having previously missed a couple of relatively simple ones.

However, Crediton were soon back in front having nicked a Saltash lineout and the resulting catch and drive ended with No 8 Mark Nott touching down, Avery-Wright adding the extras.

Once again though, after getting a lead, Crediton gifted their opponents a score and a mis-directed pass was gathered by the visitors and their pacey backs grabbed a try to level the scores at the interval.

With all to play for and the wind behind them, the smart money could well have been on a Saltash win but this was a day when Crediton were not to give in without a battle and they put pressure on the Ashes line.

Three penalties were conceded by the visitors as they seemed unable to deal with the home pack.

The pressure eventually told when replacement flanker Josh Lee was driven over, Avery-Wright landed the conversion.

Things got worse for the Ashes when from a Crediton lineout 25 metres out the home pack drove forward and Lee, having spotted the blindside was unprotected, peeled off to score out wide.

Avery-Wright landed the conversion and then popped over a penalty to put Crediton three scores clear.

Saltash tried everything to get back into the game running from depth but Crediton defended well and it was only a consolation try in the final minute when the home side were reduced to 14 men that they grabbed a try.

This was a huge improvement on the performance at Truro, there was an air of confidence about what we were doing, we did the simple things very well and certainly didn’t overdo the running from our “22” but let the wind help gain territory.

Saltash have a potent back division and always looked dangerous but in the second half in particular, we defended in their half forcing them to try and run from deep.

If they kicked then we kicked or ran it back at them, for Saltash a frustrating day but for us a bonus point win, thoroughly deserved but one which still did not move us up the table.

However, whilst we may be second from bottom, we are only four points behind the fifth placed side.

CREDITON ‘QUINS 52

SALTASH SECONDS 10

Crediton Seconds took a break from League action and entertained Saltash Seconds in a friendly at Blagdon.

The initial exchanges seemed to be evenly matched between both sides but Crediton gradually began to get into their rhythm and started to control the game although no-one anticipated such a big win.

It took 12 minutes for the ‘Quins to get on the scoreboard when, following a sustained period of pressure in the Saltash “22”, No 8 Raf Zappia picked up from the back of a scrum and broke through several tacklers to touch down for a try, fly-half Rob Milton adding the extras.

Within 10 minutes winger Ash Bradnock added to the score when he ran a good line off his blindside wing to finish off a good backs move by touching down in the corner, Milton landed an excellent conversion.

With a good platform being set up by the forwards the Crediton backs were now starting to find gaps in the Saltash defence it was not long before centre, Dan Lewis, went over following another good backs move which put him into space for a try. Rob Milton, again, added the extras.

Just before half-time Crediton scored again when they won good turnover ball on the half-way line which was quickly moved through the backs to Raf Zappia who broke through tacklers to go over for his second try. Rob Milton added the conversion to take Crediton into half-time with a 28-0 lead.

Saltash started the second half with a lot more intensity and were the first on the scoreboard following the restart.

A quick tap penalty by Saltash caught the Crediton players napping and the visiting backs broke quickly to go over in the corner for a well-deserved try.

Crediton responded quickly and from deep inside his own half Raf Zappia made a good line break to put his winger away into space and Jake Clarke was up in support to take the final pass to go over for another converted try.

This was quickly followed by another score when Saltash failed to find touch with a clearance kick. The ‘Quins ran the ball back at them from inside their own half and good interplay by the backs put Will Jermyn away to run in from 22 metres for an unconverted try.

Saltash came back strongly and after winning good scrum ball on the half-way line their centre deftly chipped over the top of the Crediton defensive line to gather his own kick and go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Crediton however were now well in control and on 74 minutes Ash Bradnock made another good line break gaining metres and once again Jake Clarke was up in support to take the final pass to go over for his second try, with Rob Milton adding the conversion.

With minutes left on the clock Crediton scored again. Once again Raf Zappia was the instigator when he made yet another good line break to put Sam Harris away for a clear run in to score an unconverted try in the corner, making the final score 52-10 to Crediton.

WITHYCOMBE SECONDS 12

CREDITON THIRDS 44

The Third Fifteen maintained their challenge at the top of the Merit Table with a well-deserved victory at Withycombe.

Withies were well in the game at the interval and indeed started the second period leading 9-6. However, the Crediton side went on the rampage with five tries, Richard Gray and Paul Tearle each scoring twice and Scott Mills adding one.

Full-back Phil Anning had an outstanding day with the boot, banging over five conversions and three penalties.

So we are currently in second place but only marginally on points difference behind Torquay.

PH