CREDITON 38 - TRURO 27

DESPITE the strong wind and generally sticky conditions on Saturday, December 8, both sides provided a competitive and entertaining game which ebbed and flowed throughout.

Playing with the elements, the visitors would have been disappointed not to have taken full advantage of the favourable wind as we reached the interval with an 11-6 lead.

It took a while to break the deadlock but when it came, the opening score was well worth seeing. A high up and under from Mark Lee saw the ball hang in the wind and flanker Jake Clarke was the first to the ball, his release in the tackle sent Lee racing down the left touchline and a perfectly timed pass inside put winger Devon Hosegood in for a try.

Within minutes both fly-halves cancelled each other out with penalties, Justyn Irons for Truro and Ollie-Avery-Wright for Crediton and by the interval both had repeated the exercise to give Crediton an 11-6 lead.

Truro took control in the early stages of the second period and their forwards worked hard keeping the pressure on and were rewarded with a try from winger Ieuan Boon. The conversion from Irons put them ahead, Crediton rallied and enjoyed a purple patch for 20 minutes and a penalty to the corner ended with a catch and drive try for hooker Dan Yendell, converted by Avery-Wright who then popped over a penalty.

The next home attack saw the ball held up over the try-line and from the resulting Crediton scrum, the ball ended up with lock Josh Lee going over in the corner, again Avery-Wright adding the extras.

A clearance kick from Jason Luff took the ball upfield and it was carried over the line by the Truro defence and the resulting Crediton scrum ended with No 8 Ben Wonnacott touching down, Avery-Wright making it a seven pointer.

It was beginning to look like a rout but the visitors are not a side to give in that easily and they reduced the arrears with a try from nothing when full-back Luke Tidball appeared from nowhere down the right to race home and score under the posts. Irons converted.

Within minutes flanker Sam Teasdale was driven over for a try which Irons improved upon and suddenly the visitors were in the ascendancy and a mere nine points behind.

Another Avery-Wright penalty minutes from time settled the nerves to complete the bonus point victory.

Scorers for Crediton: Tries: Hosegood, Yendell, J. Lee, Wonnacott; Conversions: Avery-Wright (3); Penalties: Avery-Wright (4).

The win kept us in third place at the half-way stage, five points ahead of fourth placed Wellington who are our opponents tomorrow (Saturday, December 15) as we start the second half of the league programme.

The top four are gradually pulling away having established a 10-point gap to fifth place although Sidmouth have certainly set the pace with a remarkable 60 points from a possible 65.

Whilst the table is gradually taking shape, there are still plenty of twists and turns to come during the second half of the season but we are in a really good position and one that we can build on over the coming months.

EXMOUTH SECONDS 10 - CREDITON SECONDS 29

A visit to top of the table Exmouth was a daunting prospect for Crediton Seconds and few would have put money on a Crediton victory.

However, we felt that we had sent a strong side that would at least prove competitive. The early signs were encouraging as our defence snuffed out the opening salvoes from the Cockles, halting an early Exmouth maul showed that Crediton had not turned up just to make up the numbers.

The ‘Quins pack scrummaged with power and confidence grew. Patience was the key and good support play and determination gave Crediton the first points and despite a quick response from Exmouth, we gradually took control of the game.

Such was the dominance of the ‘Quins scrummaging, Exmouth were unable to cope and a couple of injuries and a lack of front-row replacements meant that the final half hour was played with non-contested scrums.

This of course took away the mainstay of our advantage.

Nonetheless, as the game opened up with Exmouth able to have more possession for their backs, we adjusted our game and denied them any significant opportunities.

In the end we ran out deserving winners. Tries came from Dan Cooper, Chris Hooper, Oli Coupe, Tom Luxmoor and Gav Down with Cooper and Tyler Farley each adding a conversion.

This was a particularly good win for the ‘Quins and following on from the victory against Tiverton, we have moved up to a mid-table position in the Merit Table.

Next up will be Ivybridge at home tomorrow, a team that blows hot and cold, some weeks unable to raise a team and yet did manage to give us a bit of a roasting on their patch three weeks ago, although in mitigation that was on their new 4G pitch which offers them a huge advantage.

I have no doubt we shall see a very different game this time.

The Thirds and Colts had no game last weekend but tomorrow take on South Molton Seconds at home and Teignmouth Colts away.

Paul Harris