WITH three weeks of the season behind us, the First Fifteen have struggled with injuries and unavailabilities and whilst the opening games have resulted in defeats, none have been heavy.

The opening game at Wellington was a game that perhaps we should have won although the lineouts proved our Achilles heel. We dominated the scrums but hardly won a lineout.

The result being that any kicks for territory were simply returned, often with interest and the resulting lineout generally lost.

Ultimately, we were unable to put pressure on in the right areas. We did take an early lead courtesy of a well-worked try ending with centre Jack Boulter going over. Jason Luff landed the conversion.

The home side hit back and levelled with a try and conversion.

A Rob Milton penalty restored our lead only for Wellington to respond with two of their own for a final score of 13-10.

At Cullompton we held them very well and the defence was superb and with 10 minutes remaining we were only 6-3 down. Unfortunately, two late tries gave Cully an 18-3 win.

Devonport was the first home game and after going behind early on to a converted try, we did respond with a Chris Hooper try. The score remained that way until the interval although Devonport increased their lead early in the second half with another converted try.

From then on it was all Crediton pressure but the visitors defended cleverly if not always legally.

It was generally felt that with 10 minutes remaining and after a couple of scrum penalties five metres off their line, we should have had a penalty try.

However, it was not to be and we ended up losing 5-14.

QUINS

The ‘Quins have also had a tough start with two defeats against good Second Fifteen’s in Barnstaple and Cullompton.

However, we bounced back well against Devonport and it was third time lucky.

The game started well for the ‘Quins when, with only four minutes on the clock, a good turnover in mid-field created an overlap out wide for winger John Gray to go over for the games first score.

Devonport came back strongly and the game was evenly matched in all areas with no quarter being given by either side and they got back into the game after 19 minutes when after a sustained period of pressure in the Crediton “22” their flanker powered his way through three missed tackles to go over for a converted try.

Within six minutes, Devonport increased their lead when they spun the ball wide to go over in the corner for a second converted try.

This score was somewhat controversial as the player’s foot was clearly in touch and although the touch judge had his flag up the referee overruled him.

The ‘Quins quickly regrouped and just before half-time they got back on the scoreboard when, following a five metre scrum, No 8 Will Goodman got the touch down for an unconverted try to make the half-time score 10-14 to the visitors.

Within five minutes of the restart Devonport increased their lead when a clearance kick was charged down and they won the race to the touch down.

A penalty from Haydon Hill pulled three points back for the ‘Quins, and when the visitors infringed again, this time the ‘Quins elected to kick to the corner.

From the resultant line-out catch and drive, lock Richard Gray was driven over.

After 57 minutes Devonport increased their lead with another controversial try when an apparent knock on went unseen by the referee who was obviously unsighted as he allowed play to continue and with the Crediton players waiting for the whistle, the visitors went over for a converted try.

The ‘Quins again regrouped and after 71 minutes were rewarded when a good move in mid-field created space for Dan Cooper, who then raced in from 22 metres for a converted try.

Within minutes the ‘Quins got their noses in front for only the second time in the game when a good line break by Tom Mortimer put winger Jason Probert away and he outpaced two defenders to go over for a converted try in what was to be the last score of the game and gave the ‘Quins their first victory of the season by 32-26.

Credit must go to both teams for a very entertaining game but the Crediton players must be applauded for the way they continually kept the pressure on as they played catch-up for almost the entire game to earn a well-deserved win.

HORNETS

The Hornets slipped to a narrow defeat in their opening Merit Table fixture at Honiton, conceding a score in the dying moments to lose 22-24.

COLTS

The Colts have had a great start to the season with two excellent victories, at Sidmouth 38-12 and at home against Exmouth 25-20.

Callum Barrett has bagged three tries in the opening two games and there has been one apiece for Josh Goldman, David Gray, Jack Reed, Dayan Tomic and Alistair Tonkin.

Josh Davey has landed seven conversions (out of eight) and three penalties.

Paul Harris