OKEHAMPTON 32

CREDITON 5

CREDITON’S trip to current league pace setters Okehampton ended in a disappointing defeat although the actual scoreline certainly does not provide a true reflection of the game.

Certainly, Okes were good value for their win but we were generally much better than the score would suggest, indeed had it not been for two very dubious tries around the half-hour mark, the outcome could possibly have been different.

Playing up the slope and against the wind, we adopted the sensible pick and go approach, keeping possession and generally looking after the ball, in fact it was probably five minutes into the game that the home side actually touched the ball.

Despite our early dominance, we were unable to make much headway against a strong Okey defence but it was very much against the run of play that they actually took the lead with a penalty. Within five minutes, they added another penalty for a 6-0 lead on the half-hour.

At this stage of the game, we had dealt comfortably with anything that Okey had to offer although at the same time we had not created much ourselves.

However, disaster struck when the home backs were first to react to a chip over the top and the ball was collected but the inside pass was clearly forward as was the next pass which put their winger away for the try.

Worse was to follow when another kick to the corner put us under pressure, however we did retrieve the ball on our own line but the ball was adjudged to have gone forward in doing so. The Okehampton centre followed up quickly and in his attempt to pick up the loose ball also clearly knocked it on before picking up and diving over, once again, no-one on the touchline, be they Crediton or Okehampton supporters, could believe that the try was awarded.

Fourteen points in the manner in which they were scored really knocked the stuffing out of the players and things went from bad to worse when Okes picked a hole in our midfield defence and bagged a third try under the posts.

Going to the interval 0-27 was a huge mountain to climb and had it been 0-13 we would have considered ourselves in with a chance in the second half.

However, much as we tried, we could not get ourselves into the right places to put pressure on for long periods. Granted we did have a spell where Okey were forced to concede penalties and we did work the catch and drive to good effect ending with skipper Ben Wonnacott going over for a try.

It was however, nothing more than consolation as the home side had the last word with a driving maul try of their own in the final minute.

It is hard to be critical of the players, they all put in a 100 per cent effort on a strength-sapping pitch and to suffer two bad calls in quick succession when up to that point we had not really been in any great trouble, was hugely disheartening.

That said, Okehampton seemed to possess more weapons in their armoury, they looked a little sharper in the backs although the forward exchanges were pretty even.

Our lineout did not function as well as in previous weeks but again in such a wind, it was always a lottery.

CREDITON SECONDS 12

OKEHAMPTON SECONDS 19

The ‘Quins entertained local rivals Okehampton Seconds in the Devon Merit Table and, as with all local derbies Crediton knew that this was going to be a tough encounter.

Playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half Crediton made good use of the elements by kicking for position and plying the game in the right areas.

The early exchanges were evenly contested and from the outset it seemed that there would be little to choose between the sides and that probably the win would go to the side that made fewer mistakes.

It only took Crediton three minutes to get the scoreboard moving. Okes were penalised for an offside offence and Crediton kicked into the corner.

Our lineout worked well and with a strong catch and drive got over the Okehampton line, John Butt getting the final touch down and Tom Ronchetti adding the extras.

Crediton gradually started to dominate territory and possession but found it difficult to break down a well-drilled and resolute Okehampton defence.

After 16 minutes Okehampton hit back with an equalising score. Winning a scrum against the head in Crediton’s five metres area their backs moved the ball quickly out to their winger who went over in the corner for a converted try.

Crediton regained the lead after 23 minutes when having won the good scrum ball the Crediton backs broke quickly and a planned training ground move put winger Sam Harris over in the corner for an unconverted try.

However, the lead did not last long as Okehampton hit back 10 minutes later.

A failure to defend around the fringes of the tackle area allowed Okehampton to break the Crediton defensive line and with good support play the visitors scored in the corner with a difficult conversion being kicked they edged into a two point lead at the interval.

Both sides started the second half full of intent as both knew that the first to score would have a huge psychological advantage.

Crediton were again edging the territory and possession stakes but were unable to make this count. There were two clear cut chances to take the lead but unfortunately on both occasions the final pass was not good enough and both opportunities lost.

With time running out Crediton were battling hard looking for the elusive score to regain the lead but this wasn’t to be and in the final minute Okehampton won a line-out close to the Crediton line from which they set up a powerful drive to go over for an unconverted try, making the final score 12-19 to Okehampton.

This was another game where defences were on top but Crediton have to learn that they have to be much more clinical in finishing off chances created, especially in tight games such as this.

Both the Third Fifteen and Colts were let down at the last minute when opponents cried off. Whilst there is every sympathy for clubs that have issues with playing numbers, there is little or no excuse to withdraw from games as late as 10pm on Friday night or even worse 11am on Saturday.

Clubs must be aware fairly early in the week that their players are going to an 18th Birthday party on the Saturday night although quite why that is an excuse not to play I do not know.

As for the Third Fifteen, it was disappointing that our scheduled opponents in the Merit Table fixture opted to play a Veterans game instead.

Again, a Vets game does not just happen on a Saturday, it has to be organised and they must have known early in the week that they would not be able to fulfil both fixtures.

What really frustrates administrators is that had we known earlier, alternative fixtures could have been found and those players that actually want to play rugby would have had a game on Saturday.

Fixtures for tomorrow, Saturday, December 19 are as follows: First Fifteen v Wadebridge (home); Second Fifteen v Brigham (away); Third Fifteen v Tavistock Seconds (home) and Colts v South Molton (away).