Crediton Seconds 49 - Okehampton Seconds 10

February 19

THIS was indeed a very powerful performance from the Seconds as they dominated all but the opening 10 minutes of the game. The Okehampton pack was in retreat for most of the game although the opening minutes showed little sign of the blitz that was to follow.

It was the visitors who looked sharper in that brief spell at the beginning and a driving maul down the right ended with the Okey No8 peeling off and sprinting from the "22" to open the scoring, the conversion failed and we were 0-5 down.

That, as they say, is as good as it got for Okehampton and the Crediton side began to take a grip on the game.

The forwards took complete control at the scrum and provided the backs with some quality possession that ultimately led to a nine try romp.

The side was a combination of youth backed up with some vast experience, a perfect blend for a successful side. To their credit, Okehampton did not cave in and battled away right to the end and actually fashioned the last try of the game with a break from their own "22" to have the last word.

The starting front row of Macca Jones, Kev Ellis and Joe Rees did the real damage and it must have been a somewhat gloomy experience for Okey to see Wayne Reed and Phil Holmes come off the bench in the second half!

Matt Arnold and Rowan Braunton formed a powerful engine room with Braunton adding his strong carries to the armoury.

The back row of Sam Rowe, Josh Atkinson and Chris Hooper were very strong at the breakdown and covered acres of ground. Joe Dodge at scrum half has found a steadying ally in the experienced Tom Ronchetti and together they are forming a useful partnership.

Ethan Power with some excellent runs and side step, together with Sam Reed, provided both pace when in attack and strength when defending, very little got past them.

Ollie Coupe, in his first outing as fullback, looked as though he had played there for years and capped his performance with a try. Tom O’Donnell and Bobby Saunders enjoyed some good possession in the centre and posed constant threats to the Okehampton defence and when Will Crang came off the bench, he carried superbly and often taking three defenders to stop him. Completing a strong bench was another of the talented Ronchetti dynasty, Nathan, who is accomplished and at home in any of the threequarter positions.

The strength of this side has developed over the season and putting a string of good results together has seen them grow in confidence. The benefit of such a good Junior section at the Club over the past few decades continues to reap rewards.

Matt Arnold, Josh Atkinson, Joe Dodge, Ethan Power, Sam Reed and Will Crang have only been out of the Colts for a couple of years whilst Bobby Saunders and Tom O’Donnell were Colts not very long ago as well, half the team under the age of 23.

Add to that the experience of Wayne Reed, Kevin Ellis and Phil Holmes whose combined age reached 130 years.

Ellis has achieved the remarkable statistic of 720 games in total for the Club and as yet has no intention of stopping. His "pecs" may have slipped a little over time but he can still play for 80 minutes each week.

Macca Jones bagged a hat-trick of tries and there was a brace for Sam Rowe. Ethan Power, Rowan Braunton, Bobby Saunders and Ollie Coupe each scored once. It was certainly not a day for the place kickers with most of the tries scored out wide but both Tom and Nathan Ronchetti landed one apiece.

Honiton Seconds 8 - Crediton Thirds 7

The Thirds earned a losing bonus point when victory was snatched away from them in the final minute of the game when, leading 7-5 we conceded a penalty which was duly converted. Nonetheless, a closely fought game between two evenly matched sides. Hayden Hill converted the try from Josh Woodland.

Crediton Colts 17 - Wellington School 19

Wellington School provided good opposition for the Colts in what can really only be described with that age old cliche as a game of two halves.

The slope and who made best use of it, being the major factor. The first period it was Crediton with the advantage and racked up a 17-0 lead courtesy of two tries from Tom Gulley and one from brother Louie. Kofi Firth landing a conversion.

The second half belonged to the School who also scored three tries, one being a penalty try, plus another conversion.

The Colts did have plenty of time in the opposition "22" in the second half but a lack of discipline gave away penalties at crucial times.

That is certainly an area that needs improvement especially if we are to do well in the Devon Colts Plate Competition.

On Saturday, February 26, the Thirds entertain Topsham Seconds and the Colts play Exeter Saracens at home.

Paul Harris