Crediton RFC 3rd XV 24 - Bideford RFC Seconds 22

AFTEER a Mother Nature enforced three week break, the mighty Thirds welcomed top of the table Bideford Seconds to Blagdon. Back in October we had been on the end of a heavy defeat so the mood in camp was one of payback!

With a few unavailability’s we were a little short in the backs and had to fill the gaps with a few forwards which paid off in the first three minutes when back rower Euan Phillip crashed over from his new position in the centre to score under the posts! Owen Cooper converted.

For the next 10 minutes it was an even affair, with both sides putting their bodies on the line in attack and defence. It was physical and it was high quality.

Bideford got the scoreboard moving when, after six phases of pick and goes in our ’22, they exploited a gap to go over for a converted try.

The forwards had their hands full against a strong visiting pack but Lewis Cook, who has been learning his trade in the front row for only three years, held strong against an extremely experienced and strong tighthead. His display really showed how far he's come and the whole team was very impressed and proud!

Bideford scored again, this time out wide after stretching our defence and putting the ball through many pairs of hands. We responded with an impressive lineout on the ’22. The pack set up a rolling maul, with Captain Ben Rodd controlling it from the back and dotting down. The conversion went wide.

Another good move from Bideford with silky hands and strong running saw them go over in the corner and when the referee blew for half time it was 12-17.

It had been an impressive first half against a very strong team but the lads knew we had more in the tank, we were fantastic in attack but just needed to tighten up our defence in the second half and, with a few pairs of fresh leg's coming on, they knew what they had to do!

After strong pressure in the ‘22 and after a succession of penalties, Bideford had a player sent to the bin for 10 minutes. With a fresh front row, we powered over from a 5m scrum for Rodd to score his second.

The next 20 minutes were well contested with nothing telling the two sides apart and it was great to see the lad's playing a high second team standard especially after a three week break. Skipper Rodd wanted more though and, after making our way up the pitch with great team play, he took the ball on the ‘22 and crashed straight through several defenders to run in under the posts. Cooper converted,

At 24-17, the game wasn’t over and Bideford showed their experience, setting up a maul 5m out and scoring a well-deserved try. Unfortunately for the visitors, the conversion went wide, leaving the score 24-22 with five minutes on the clock.

Callum Yeandle, who had a fantastic game at scrum half, organised his forwards, keeping the ball in hand and working through multiple phases to ensure we kept possession in the final stages.

With time up, the ball was kicked off the pitch and a very hard fought, well deserved victory against a strong Second XV was secured!

We thank Bideford for a fantastic game of grassroots rugby and also reminding us that we can compete against well drilled top of the table teams!

John Gurzynski

Coming Up: Saturday, February 21 – Vice Presidents Day – 1st XV v Ivybridge (H), 2nd XV v Bideford (A), 3rd XV v Topsham (A), Colts XV v TBC; Sunday 22nd – Women’s XV v Yeovil (H).