FALMOUTH 7 - CREDITON 22

THE combined efforts of the Falmouth team and storm Brian could not prevent an excellent four-try bonus point victory for Crediton in Cornwall. It was certainly a result that the home supporters did not expect but in fairness to them, they were full of praise for our performance.

We began the game with the wind at our backs and, as both sides found out during the game, that is not necessarily a huge advantage.

The first half saw the ball drifting away from the receiver in many of the passing moves which caused attacking moves to break down and for 30 minutes we had dominated territory but not had anything to show for it.

The home defence proved difficult to break down but equally, they had yet to break into our “22”.

The opening score, when it did come, was quite simple. A good ruck ball was won 10 metres out and as the ball went left, a neat pop pass from fly-half Mark Lee found brother Josh on his shoulder and he went in under the posts. Full-back Oli Down converted.

More pressure followed and a clever passing move up the left touchline ended with scrum-half Ed Brady going over in the corner.

Inevitably, storm Brian put paid to any successful kicks from out wide and so we arrived at the interval with a 12-point advantage.

The general feeling of the home support was that this would not be enough and they certainly seemed confident that their side would turn things around.

The game was decided in the opening five minutes of the second half and it swung completely our way when we won possession on the home 10-metre line and Mark Lee pumped a superb cross kick against the wind which caught the home defence completely off guard and centre Devon Hosegood latched onto it and outpaced the Falmouth defence to score out wide.

Within a couple of minutes, Lee repeated the kick and again the home defence were unable to deal with it and this time it was full-back Oli Down who took advantage as he beat three defenders to score.

Suddenly and against the elements we had put ourselves four scores clear and looking relatively comfortable.

We certainly looked after the ball when in possession and defended extremely well when Falmouth had the ball although they did pull a try back mid-way through the half, ironically scored by former Crediton junior player Simon Bailey.

With the game entering the final quarter, the home side were finding it difficult to make any headway as our defence held them at bay and for much of the time around the half-way.

On occasions when they did find their way into our “22” Falmouth could find no way through and when we counter-attacked we certainly looked dangerous.

In terms of individual performances it is difficult to single out players because all 18 put in a great shift. Full-back Oli Down always looked a threat with the ball in hand and former Colt Josh Davey, who probably had more game time than he may have anticipated when he came on as a replacement for winger Andrew Smerdon who suffered a shoulder injury midway through the first half.

Josh looked very comfortable in the first team and will no doubt feature many more games this season.

We also saw newcomer Andy Brown come off the bench for his First Fifteen debut and he too looks a useful addition to the club playing strength.

Every player played a significant part in this win and even Brian was used to advantage.

CREDITON ‘QUINS 14 - CULLOMPTON SECONDS 43

Cullompton Seconds were the visitors to Blagdon for a Devon Merit Table One fixture and the ‘Quins were looking to maintain the form they showed the previous week in beating Barnstaple.

The visitors had other ideas however and playing with a strong wind at their backs they took an early lead after only four minutes.

The big Cullompton pack pushed the Crediton scrum back off their own put in and their powerful backs went over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Ten minutes later Cullompton scored a virtual identical try, which this time was converted, and it was clear that Crediton were in for a tough afternoon against a powerful and dominant Cullompton pack, who also had a strong running physical set of backs.

Although Crediton were attempting to get back into the game they could not establish any decent platform to play from but what possession they got they continued to make good ground but could not break through the visitors defence.

Cullompton added a further two converted tries in the 17th and 24th minutes with each coming as a result of missed first up tackles by the Crediton defence.

After 29 minutes Crediton finally got on the scoreboard. Strong carrying by the Crediton forwards into a howling wind took play into the visitors “22” where they built sustained phases of play before the ball was released to Tom Ronchetti who broke through his tackler to go over for a try, adding the extras himself.

Cullompton hit back immediately and on 32 minutes they went further into the lead. Once again the Crediton pack were pushed back off their own put in and, winning good turnover ball, their backs raced over in the corner for a converted try.

The game was turning into a rout and within five minutes Cully scored again. A quick ruck ball was spun to their backs where they split the Crediton defence with good angles of running to go over for an unconverted try.

Right on half-time Cully scored their seventh try of the afternoon and for the fourth time it was as a result of the Crediton scrum being pushed off their own put in which allowed the Cully backs to benefit from turnover ball once again to go over for a converted try, making the half-time score 7-43 to Cullompton.

Changes were made to the Crediton side at half-time and they entered into the second half with the wind to their backs in what was worsening weather conditions.

The Crediton scrum was a lot more stable and with a more settled platform they were now able to play to some of their patterns of play creating chances and making good ground.

The physical Cullompton backs however were in a very determined mood and were defending solidly, denying the Crediton players from breaking through time and time again.

Crediton finally got over the Cullompton line in the final minutes of play. Sustained controlled pressure near to the Cullompton try-line saw Macca Jones race onto a quick ball at pace and force his way over for a try, with Tom Ronchetti adding the extras with the final kick of the game, making the final score 14-43 to Cullompton.

Although the Crediton players can take pride in the fact that they didn’t allow Cullompton to score any points in the second half, harsh lessons have to be learnt following their first half performance which Cullompton totally dominated with power, strength and physicality.

CREDITON THIRDS 24 - BUCKFASTLEIGH 12

Buckfastleigh were looking for a warm up game before their league season began this week and it would certainly seem as they have much work to do before they start their Devon Two campaign.

This was a tremendous performance from Crediton’s Third Fifteen to beat a side playing in the league structure. At 12 points all going into the final 10 minutes, it was the Crediton players who lasted the pace better and grabbed two tries in the final minutes.

Needless to say the Buckfastleigh coach was decidedly unhappy with his team performance.

Tries for Crediton were scored by John Gurzynski, John Cheffins, Oli Coupe and Andy Pennington with Phil Anning with Hayden Hill adding two conversions.

CREDITON COLTS 26 - BARNSTAPLE COLTS 26

The Colts battled back from a 5-21 deficit at half-time to gain a well-deserved draw against Barnstaple.

Tries came from Josh Woodland, Matt Karrea and Harry Trelawny with Conrad Saunders adding three conversions.

Paul Harris