North Petherton 22, Crediton 19
We could not have asked for a better start to a game and yet suffer the worst of finishes in a closely fought battle at North Petherton.
We opened the scoring within 30 seconds of the start when we broke through the home defence and a superb offload put Luke Mingo over for a try which Ollie Avery-Wright converted.
From then on it was all about the home side applying pressure and us having to absorb it. A few missed tackles allowed them to get 12-7 ahead by the interval and extend that lead to 19-7 midway through the second half.
It is to our credit that we actually woke up in the final quarter and pulled back to level at 19-all courtesy of a Devon Hosegood try converted by OAW and then a driving maul put Tom Luxmoore over.
With time ticking away, we coughed up a penalty which the home side converted for a three-point lead but still it was not game over.
Having scored a couple of good tries to level things, we still felt there was an opportunity to get something out of the game and indeed the opportunity presented itself when we forced a penalty under the posts. For some reason we went for a quick tap and go and eventually got turned over and the game ended.
Not for the first time this season have we spurned an almost certain three points that would have earned a draw and instead gone for either a lineout or taken a quick penalty.
While the sentiment is admirable I would like to think that perhaps in a normal season where points can be vital to avoid the possibility of relegation, the more pragmatic approach would have been taken!
One worrying aspect was the serious injury to the try scoring machine that is Luke Mingo who suffered a snapped Achilles tendon which will no doubt mean a long lay-off.
Luke has been immense since joining the club, there is no better ball carrier in this league and he is never far from the action throughout the game, week in week out he gives the same level of performance and we wish him well in his recovery and rehab.
It was also good to see Kev Dennis back in action, another quality player who can certainly make a difference to our attacking options.
Crediton Thirds 35, Exeter Saracens Seconds 19
The third XV enjoyed another entertaining game against Exeter Saracens seconds, it is really good to see Sarries putting out a second XV on a regular basis once again.
A game full of good rugby and laced with a few tries and played in the true spirit of a local derby friendly. Despite the advantage of the slope and scrum domination in the first half, much of the game was played in their half with periods of play camped on their line.
The pressure brought rewards with tries from prop Dan Vertenten, lock Oscar Broad-Voysey and scrum half Joe Warren, all converted by fly half Hayden Hill.
The visitors pulled the score back shortly before the break to see us 21-5 ahead with the advantage of the slope yet to come.
For some reason, the threes sometimes require a nap early in the second half and today was no different and, while we were sleeping, Sarries battled back with a converted try which of course set off the alarm.
Slumbers over and we reverted to our natural attacking and flowing rugby with No. 8 Mike Sherring-Lucas prominent with some direct running. There were also some impressive performances from Ben Gillard and Henry Howard both young players recently out of Colts.
Vertenten went over for his second try and veteran centre Brad Baker was eager not to leave the scoring entirely to the forwards, sneaked in with a quick pick and go to score under the posts. Hayden Hill converted both to maintain a 100 per cent record during the game.
Brixham Colts 38, Crediton Colts 7
A difficult day for the Colts, missing several key players to the Exeter Chiefs Under-17 Academy squad and with other players not available, only 16 players were available to take to Brixham.
Nonetheless, they battled away all through the game and heads never dropped. With two games remaining in the Devon Colts Shield, there is no reason to think their chances of making the final are over.
Far from it and indeed an opportunity to face Brixham in the final with a full squad available should make a significant difference. Tariq Sayers scored our try with the conversion from Tom Gray.
Congratulations are due to several of our young players, in the U18 Girls, Katie Salter, Eva Lewis, Clara Johnson, Lilly Plowman and Tilly Pulfer represented Exeter Chiefs Centre of Excellence in games against York, Worcester Warriors and Hartpury
Three of our Colts, Kofi Firth, James Dodge and Freddie Blackburn, travelled to Warwick School to represent the Exeter Chiefs Under 17 Academy against Sale and won 24-19.
Two of our Under-16s, Ben Harris and James Howard, made the same trip to represent the Chiefs Under 16 Academy, also against Sale in a game that ended 24-24.
Well done all 10 of you and it begs the question – where would Premiership Clubs be without a production line at so many Clubs like ours all around the country who are the main breeding ground for young players?
Tomorrow is a free weekend for the First XV but the Seconds host Tiverton seconds and the Thirds travel to Tiverton, both are Merit Table games. The Colts travel to Bideford for a Colts Shield fixture.
Paul Harris