CREDITON 24 - ST AUSTELL 23

AT last we gained our first victory of the season albeit only just by the narrowest of margins. This was very much a continuation of last season when over two games only one point separated the two sides.

Play ebbed and flowed from end-to-end and the visitors gained the early advantage with a converted try and a penalty for a 10-0 lead.

However, we settled into a bit more of a rhythm and Mark Lee landed three penalties to reduce the arrears to a single point at the interval.

The second half was dominated by Crediton as we pegged St Austell in their own half for long periods. The pressure eventually brought the deserved reward when centre Jason Luff made a break, evading a couple of tackles before offloading to fly-half Matty Dayment who went over in the corner.

St Austell hit back strongly and regained the lead with a catch and drive try followed by a penalty to put them four points clear.

A Crediton attack broke down just inside the St Austell half but in their efforts to run the ball were brought to an abrupt halt when home centre Jack Boulter intercepted and ran in under the posts for Lee to convert, 21-18.

Lee added a further penalty for a six point advantage.

With the minutes ticking away the visitors camped on the home line and earned a penalty which was kicked to the corner.

The resulting catch and drive brought them a try wide out and with the last kick of the game, the conversion sailed wide to give us a single point win.

No-one could say it was not deserved, the lineouts showed a marked improvement as was the general play, a sign of better things to come.

CREDITON ‘QUINS 33 - BIDEFORD SECONDS 15

Crediton Seconds entertained Bideford Seconds in a Devon Merit Table One League encounter.

Within five minutes of the kick off Bideford took an early lead with a penalty after Crediton were penalised for handling on the floor.

Crediton immediately hit back and after winning good line-out ball their forwards set up several good phases of play before Richard Gray forced his way over for an unconverted try.

Crediton went further ahead after 12 minutes when Jason Probert intercepted a Bideford pass deep in his own half and he raced clear to touch down under the posts for a try, with Tom Ronchetti adding the extras.

Bobby Mogford was next on the scoresheet when he was up in support to get the final touch down following good passage of interplay between the Crediton forwards and backs with Tom Ronchetti again adding the extras.

Just before half-time Bideford got their first try. Running a penalty their forwards set up a good driving maul to force their way over their Crediton line for an unconverted try, making the half-time score 19-8 to Crediton.

Crediton made changes at half-time and within five minutes of the restart captain, Sam Rowe, was on-hand to finish off another good move with Tom Ronchetti adding the extras.

Ten minutes later Wayne Reed got in on the act when he took a quick tap penalty five metres out and forced his way over the Bideford line for a converted try.

To their credit Bideford refused to give up and minutes before the final whistle they were rewarded when their forwards drove over the Crediton line for a converted try, making the final score 33-15 to Crediton.

This was another good result for Crediton Seconds who had Colts’ players Jack Reed, Robbie Guthrie and Tom Jermyn, all making their second team debuts.

Each of these players produced a very solid performance with Robbie Guthrie probably putting in the biggest hit of the game, and each showed they have great potential, which augers well for the future.

TIVERTON 25 - CREDITON 17

Crediton were undone in a 15-minute spell immediately after the interval when Tivvy bagged three tries to come back from 8-10 down at half-time.

Up to then, there had been no indication of the change in the complexion of the game which we had dominated for the first 40 minutes.

With the lineout going well we were able to make use of some quality ball but the odd handling error perhaps let us down. We did find ourselves under pressure in the scrum but managed to hold out throughout the game.

Mark Lee popped over a penalty for a 3-0 lead before Jason Luff broke tackles to score, Lee adding the extras.

Tivvy hit back and grabbed a catch and drive try on their first visit to our “22” and followed up with a penalty on their second. Other than that we had been in control and playing some good rugby in the process.

Then came that 15 minutes where we looked a shadow of the team that had performed so well for the previous 40. Missed tackles, turnovers and defensive mix-ups gifted the home side three tries and from then on we were playing catch-up.

Once we had regained our composure we did battle our way back into the game and were on the offensive for much of the last quarter without breaking down the Tivvy defence.

A succession of penalties came our way but going for posts was not really an option but no matter what we tried we were unable to break through.

In the final minute however, the referee became frustrated with the Tivvy pack as a scrum went down a few metres off their line and awarded a penalty try which Lee converted.

It left us one point short of earning the bonus point that we richly deserved, for the best part of an hour we were the better side and certainly did not look like a team at the foot of the table.

That said, we have to play for the full 80 minutes if we are to be successful. We have shown what we are capable of but now is the time to put it all together for an entire game.

CREDITON ‘QUINS 12 - TIVERTON SECONDS 7

Crediton and Tiverton Second Fifteens battled out a keenly contested game in this Devon Merit Table One encounter. Defences were on top for much of the game, so much so that at half-time neither side had troubled the scoreboard.

The second half continued in the same vein although Crediton were beginning to dominate possession and territory. However, it was Tiverton who broke the deadlock against the run of play when they were awarded a penalty.

The kick to the corner gave them the lineout from which they drove over for the first score which was converted for a 7-0 lead.

Crediton were now chasing the game but the visiting defence was resolute and we simply could not find a way through. Just when things were looking bleak for the ‘Quins and with 10 minutes remaining, Tivvy messed up their own lineout and Dave Rich pounced on the loose ball and raced over for a deserved try which Tom Ronchetti popped over from wide out to level the scores.

With time running out and a draw looking highly likely, another Tiverton lineout error saw flanker Chris Hooper pounce on the loose ball and race over to touch down.

Both teams should be commended for an excellent local derby which could have gone either way, but the resilience of the Crediton team to keep battling away, especially after going behind, made them worthy winners.

The outcome of close games is so often decided on an error by one side or the other, fortunately for us Tivvy made the mistakes when we put pressure on their lineouts and all credit to the players for forcing the errors.

TOPSHAM COLTS 20 - CREDITON COLTS 24

The Colts continued their winning streak with a workman-like performance against a rapidly improving Topsham side.

Centre Bobby Jenkin scoring a great solo effort from the home 10-metre line running through and around several attempted tackles.

Within minutes, his co-centre Callum Barrett repeated the exercise with a jinking run to score under the posts, Josh Davey adding the extras.

Topsham responded and a combination of poor defending and ill-discipline from the Crediton side allowed the hosts in for two tries leaving the score at the interval 12-10 in our favour.

From the restart, flanker Robbie Guthrie was first to the kick and drove forward making good ground and from the resulting ruck, quick ball found its way to Barrett who went over for his second try, Davey again converting.

Topsham responded quickly with a try but more Crediton pressure ended with a classic scrum-half try from Tommy Jermyn who nipped in under the posts from 10 metres,

Davey converted to put the Colts two scores ahead. Topsham had the last word when Crediton were exposed out wide and they scored in the corner.

Although not at their best, this was still a good win for the Colts for whom No 8 Josh Goldman was in great form gaining numerous turnovers.

Paul Harris