BUDE 29 - CREDITON 27

DESPITE their heavy loss at St Ives the previous week, on December 3 Bude proved too strong for us in the forwards and for the first time this season we came off second best at the scrum as well as having problems defending their driving maul.

That said, we were still ahead by a point with three minutes remaining when we conceded three scrum penalties, the third one Bude decided to go for the points and won the game.

It looked a bit ominous from the kick off as the home side scored in the opening minute as their excellent full-back jinked in under the posts for a 7-0 lead before we had actually touched the ball!

However, we soon settled and a clever backs move ended with winger Devon Hosegood coming off his wing to make an extra centre and he went over. Mark Lee levelled things with a conversion.

Within minutes Bude were back in front when their forwards won possession and the ball went wide and they scored out wide.

Again, we responded and, from a maul on the Bude ‘22’, skipper Josh Lee peeled off and raced over, brother Mark converting and then popped over a penalty for a 17-12 lead.

Unfortunately, we were unable to hang on to that advantage and right on half-time the Bude pack drove us back over the line for the scrum-half to touch down. The try was converted.

Bude made a strong start to the second half and gained another try and a bonus point when again they pushed us back for their No 8 to get the touch down, the conversion put them two scores clear.

Our response came quickly as more clever back play ended with centre Jason Luff going over with, again. Mark Lee converted.

With time running out, Lee landed a penalty when the home side were penalised for a high tackle and we were one point ahead.

Unfortunately Bude secured the win from a penalty with the final kick of the game.

CREDITON 17 - ST IVES 13

We bounced back from the narrow defeat at Bude with an excellent victory over in-form St Ives. The win takes us out of the bottom two and also pulls us three points closer to Burnham.

We made a bright start and for the opening 10 minutes it was all one-way but we were unable to capitalise on territory and possession.

Once the Hakes had settled, they then had a period of dominance but with defences on-form they too were unable to make any significant impact.

However, they did look like scoring out wide on 22 minutes but Crediton winger, Jason Luff, read the pass really well and intercepted on the home ‘22’ and raced the length of the field to score. Centre Mark Lee landed the conversion.

Play continued apace with both sides looking dangerous at times.

St Ives’ fly-half Jordan Gott popped over two penalties on 33 and 38 minutes and Lee put one over for Crediton right on half-time.

The second half saw the pace of the game drop in the murky light and when a visitors’ attack broke down in their own half, Lee put a superb long raking kick which ended in a St Ives lineout five metres from their line.

The throw went disastrously wrong for St Ives as we won possession to set up a driving maul and veteran lock Eddie Yeandle got the touch down. Lee converted for a more comfortable cushion of 11 points.

With the light fading, home centre Chris Simpson took a yellow card for the team and the visitors then upped their game.

They found the Crediton defence almost impossible to break down although with six minutes remaining they did get the breakthrough with a well-taken try from hooker Ben Taylor which Gott converted to set up a very nervous final few minutes.

Despite being a man short we defended superbly and held out until the final whistle.

At this stage last season we were in a slightly better position with 28 points and two places higher.

However, we can look back on a number of games this season that we probably feel we should have won and yet didn’t.

Since the Tiverton game, we have won three and lost two and gained 16 points. That certainly shows we are heading in the right direction, confidence is high and we know that on our day we are capable of beating any side in the league.

Hopefully we can continue the good form into the second half of the season and at least earn a mid table finish.

CREDITON QUINS 17 - EXMOUTH SECONDS 34

The ‘Quins welcomed Exmouth Seconds to Blagdon on December 3 for a Devon Merit Table One league fixture and from the start the game was evenly balanced with both sides matching each other in all areas, although Exmouth had a substantial weight and height advantage in the forwards.

On 15 minutes and against the run of play Exmouth got the first score of the game when a Crediton pass was intercepted on the half-way line and Exmouth had a clear run in for a converted try.

The ‘Quins responded strongly and within five minutes had equalised. A strong break down the wing by Dave Rich made metres into the Exmouth half before the ball was passed back inside to supporting players and Jack Boulter broke clear to go over for a well-worked try, with Tom Philips adding the extras.

Each side continued to cancel each other out and the first half closed out at 7-7.

Crediton were forced into making changes at half-time due to injuries and they were soon reduced to 14 men when they sustained another injury.

Due to the numerical advantage Exmouth were now beginning to find space out wide and on 47 minutes they created an overlap to go over in the corner for a converted try.

A further injury reduced Crediton to 13 men and Exmouth took full advantage of this. Winning scrum ball in mid-field they again moved the ball to the wing exploiting the space to score another try in the corner.

The ‘Quins continued to battle away and Tom Phillips reduced the arrears with a penalty kick after Exmouth were penalised for offside.

Exmouth pulled these points back with a well-taken drop goal whilst playing a penalty advantage for a Crediton infringement.

Crediton were now back to 14 players and were continuing to make life difficult for Exmouth. Working their way into a good field position Crediton then set up a strong driving maul where Richard Gray got the final touch down, with Tom Phillips again adding the extras.

After 72 minutes Exmouth once again took advantage of their man advantage to create yet another overlap by sucking in the Crediton defenders to run in unopposed for a converted try.

Right on full-time Exmouth got their final try and again it was wide out in the corner, making the final score 17-34.

It was a hard fought effort by a determined Crediton team. The scoreline could perhaps have been somewhat different.

In other games, the ‘Quins lost a keenly contested game at home against Brixham Seconds 10-15.

The Third Fifteen travelled to Exmouth a few players short but in the spirit of things, the Cockles loaned a couple of players to balance things up and in the end won 50-29.

The thirds also travelled to Honiton and lost 12-21 to Honiton Seconds.

Congratulations to the Colts who have had a fine season to date finishing in third place in the North East Colts League and so earn themselves a place in the top tier of the second phase of the competition.

It will certainly be a tough ask for the Colts but they are a very talented side and capable of beating the other five teams.

Paul Harris