BOTH teams produced an entertaining game of rugby which ultimately could have gone either way.
The visitors were certainly a big side both in the forwards and the backs and always looked dangerous with ball in-hand. However, we certainly did not take a pace backwards and the defence was outstanding.
Lydney have had an upturn in fortunes with new signings arriving to bolster their front row and the inclusion of Joe McClean, a Scottish rugby league international, such is their keenness to gain promotion.
We started brightly and dominated the early encounters but Lydney held firm and gradually worked their way into the game and earned an early lead.
A forward drive from our “22” enabled scrum half Sam Arnott to pick up and score under the posts, Joe Hamlin added the conversion for 7-0 on eight minutes.
Crediton responded from the kick off regaining the ball, a resulting offside in the Lydney defence saw them kick a penalty by Ollie Avery-Wright for 3-7.
Lydney then started to manage the game and had some good possession, with their forwards making some strong runs.
On one occasion they were held up over the line and from the goal line drop out. Attacked once again.
Lydney continued to look dangerous but a sloppy pass was intercepted and Crediton countered deep into the Lydney half, another penalty saw them reduce the deficit to 6-7.
Lydney responded immediately with a good spell of pressure, a couple of penalties were tapped by Lydney and a very quick tap and go from Sam Arnott saw him beat two defenders and score close in, Hamlin added the extras for 6-14 after 30 minutes.
We were still proving dangerous and another penalty saw them close the gap to 9-14. Lydney were making a few errors in the wet conditions which gave us a chance to spread the ball across the backs and winger Josh Woodland scored a try which Ollie Avery-Wright converted to reach the interval with a 16-14 lead.
Lydney started the second half strongly and a dropped pass on a couple of occasions stopped them from scoring further tries to regain the lead.
However, they continued to work hard and McClean was proving a real handful, usually taking two and sometimes three players to stop him.
We then lost a scrum and Lydney spun the ball wide, full back Alex Nelmes joined the line and a good dummy saw him cut through the defence to score and regain the lead at 16-19.
We then had a solid period of pressure camped in the Lydney 22m and they were then reduced to 14 when their No8 was yellow carded for a high tackle.
Only some solid tackles on the Lydney line from their defenders prevented us from scoring. Lydney eventually relieved the pressure and a thunderous tackle from McClean on scrum half Ed Brady, plus a couple of other injuries meant we emptied the bench.
We had opportunities to level from penalties but opted not to take a kick for goal but instead went for the victory with a kick to the corner.
The throw missed its target and the chance went. The visitors also missed a penalty which could have extended their lead and the final minutes saw us camped on their line but unable to get the vital score.
Lydney were indeed a very big side but generally with the quality of our defence we coped pretty well. It was indeed an entertaining game and we proved that we can live in this league and hopefully, with everyone fit and available we can make the long trek to Newent tomorrow with a strong team.
Okehampton Seconds 14 - Crediton Seconds 14
Another closely fought and entertaining battle at Okelands where it seemed use of the slope was advantageous to both sides. In the first half we had that advantage and put Okes under pressure earning three penalties which were duly converted by Tom Ronchetti.
A flowing three-quarter move was finished off in style by winger Tyler Farley to give us a 14-0 interval lead.
We surrendered the slope advantage to the home side for the second half and they made full use of it coming back to level at 14 all with two converted tries. We then held out to earn a valuable draw which will have boosted confidence amongst the team.
All round it was a really good game, both defences were made to work hard and both were certainly up to the task. Our scrum was very good for much of the game although an element of tiredness crept in as the game went on.
The form of the Second XV has improved over the past few weeks and that is showing through the results. No reason why we cannot have a top six finish in the Merit Table.
Crediton Third XV 44 - Honiton Second XV 7
Firstly, Honiton are to be congratulated for turning up knowing they only had a dozen players, many sides would have called off.
As it was we had sufficient players to loan them and the game went ahead with two full XV’s.
It turned out to be a well earned victory for the Thirds having elected to play up the slope in the first-half. The scrum proved too strong for Honiton and the backs showed some finesse with their handling.
A sluggish start to the second half saw Honiton rally and grab a converted try but we added further scores to run out comfortable winners.
The tries came from: Wayne Reed (who took delight in informing the Metaverse that this was his first try since turning 50 years of age!), hooker Scott Baker, Ashley Bradnock, Jack French, Hayden Hill, Joe Warren, Andy Hawkes (making a welcome return after a few years absence) and, last but not least, Rob Somerwill, who collected a grubber kick through from Wayne Reed (yes Wayne Reed - whose post 50th Birthday has seen a new lease of life doing impressions of George Ford).
We are so very fortunate to have so many players wanting to play the game and a real bonus to see some of the lads who missed out on their last year as Colts because of Covid, returning to the game.
Launceston Colts 13 - Crediton Colts 10
The Colts up and down season continued with a narrow defeat away at Launceston. In a game that could have gone either way, a high penalty count in the second half didn’t help our cause although the lads never really hit full throttle.
The first half was an even affair. The home side edged the lineout contest but, with the exception of the first scrum when we went backwards, we dominated that area of the game. Outside there was little to choose between the backs, and both sides created opportunities.
It took until the 30th minute for the scoreboard to move when Launceston slotted a penalty and that was 3-0 at half-time.
We started the second half well and 10 minutes in stripped the Launceston pack of the ball close to their line, allowing Taylor Wonnacott to cross for a try close to the corner. The conversion was missed, making it 3-5.
It was then that the penalty count started racking up against us and on 50 minutes Launceston went in for a converted try to go 10-5 ahead.
The lead was extended five minutes later when the home side slotted another penalty to make it 13-5. While the touch judges disagreed as to whether the kick was successful, the referee thought it was good.
To our credit we responded well and crossed again through Ethan Dickinson. With 10 minutes to go it was 13-10.
We continued to press but also conceded some mysterious penalties at key moments and the Launceston lads were able to see the game out.
This was an entertaining game and we thank Launceston for their warm welcome and hospitality. We certainly hope to get another fixture in before the season is out.
Tomorrow (November 6), the First XV make their longest journey of the season with a trip to Newent in the Forest of Dean. The Second XV will be hosting Teignmouth Seconds in the Merit Table whilst the Third XV travel to Bideford to take on their Second XV. The Colts will be hosting Brixham.
Paul Harris