CREDITON RUGBY CLUB NOTES

SIDMOUTH 23 - CREDITON 31

WITH both sides having been drawn closer to the relegation battle, this was a game of significant importance as the winners would all but secure their place in Western Counties West for next season.

For the losers then the remaining four games would only bring added pressure. The fact that other results went the way of both ourselves and Sidmouth was something of a bonus but of course no-one knew how the other games went until after the game.

We began in confident style and soon had the home side under pressure and took the lead with an early Mark Lee penalty. An attack down the left almost brought a try but the Sidmouth defence managed to force us into touch yards short of the line.

The home side rallied and began to gain some possession and spread the ball wide without breaking through although a couple of penalties came their way for a 6-3 lead.

Lee landed a second penalty for us to level things. The game sparked to life when Sidmouth grabbed the first try of the game, moving the ball to the right they created an overlap to score out wide, the conversion was successful.

The Sidmouth scrum was really struggling to cope with the pressure that they were under and began to concede penalties close to their own line and with such dominance, we opted for scrums again eventually driving over the line for No 8 Mark Nott to touch down. Lee levelled things up with the conversion.

The second half began with an early penalty for the hosts to regain the lead although it did not last long as Nott grabbed his second try of the game from a driving maul and again Lee converted.

Things looked ominous for us when prop Lance Palmer was harshly yellow carded and with prop Henry Gavin already off injured, it was left to Nott to come up and fill the third spot in the front row.

Despite a man short in the pack we then proceeded to steal a Sidmouth scrum and broke quickly and a long pin-point pass to winger Tom Foan gave him the opportunity to outpace the home defence to score.

At 25-16 we looked home and dry but Sidmouth were certainly not going to give up and they hit back within two minutes with a well-worked try and conversion to reduce the deficit to two points.

For the remaining 10 minutes we looked after the ball and kept play in the Sidmouth half. As the home side got desperate to gain possession they infringed twice and Lee banged over two penalties to secure a well-deserved victory.

For the first time in a while we have moved out of the bottom three and are 11 points clear of the relegation spots with four games to go. The remaining games are all winnable and there is no reason why our late flourish, unbeaten in the last four games, cannot continue and we could still have a respectable mid-table finish.

Tomorrow, we entertain Okehampton who are more or less guaranteed the play off place at least unless something drastic happens with their form.

Supporters from both Clubs will be delighted to know that the Frank Webb Cup will be presented after the game after a lapse of six years.

Many people will remember Frank, a former Okehampton player and Devon RFU President, who donated the cup to be played for between Crediton and Okehampton.

First played for in 1970, each side has won it 17 times and certainly this year, we shall have our work cut out to overcome the 32-5 defeat at Okehampton back in November and thus win the trophy this year.

Sadly, Frank passed away last year but his daughters, Sue and Sarah, will be coming along to present the Cup to the winners.

The game is sponsored by Crediton RFC Former players and a very good turn out is expected, the kick off is as per normal 2.30pm so please come along and enjoy the afternoon.

CREDITON ‘QUINS 34 - SIDMOUTH SECONDS 10

The ‘Quins also achieved the “double” over their Sidmouth counterparts, dominating most aspects of the game and running in six tries in the process.

Flanker Rob Somerwill touched down twice and there were tries for Ash Bradnock, Raf Zappia, Stuart Pickard and John Cheffings, with Pickard landing a couple of conversions.

Fixtures tomorrow (Saturday, April 9): First Fifteen v Okehampton (home); Second Fifteen v Okehampton – away; Third Fifteen v South Molton - away and Colts v Sidmouth - away.

The following Saturday (April 16) games are as follows: First Fifteen v Wadebridge – away, Second Fifteen v Brixham – home. Games for the Third Fifteen and Colts are to be confirmed.

Paul Harris