Crediton U12s - Sidmouth (A)

IN not so favourable conditions Crediton quickly got into their stride and opened the scoring with a well worked try out wide from Ellie Y.

With continued pressure and a strong first half there were further tries from Ellie K, Lexi, Ellie Y and Keira.

The Crediton defence proved solid which put further pressure on the Sidmouth attack.

In the second half Sidmouth came out guns blazing and scored first.

They made better use of their ball in the second half and it was more of an even contest.

Though Crediton retorted with further tries from Amelie, Ellie K and Ellie Y.

Team Manager, Anna Yeandle said: “We’re so proud of their efforts, excellent progress is being made by these new girls, the majority of whom who only started playing rugby last month.”

U14s - Devonport Services (A)

KIRTON under 14 girls made the long trip to Devonport on Sunday to play in torrential, horizontal driving rain.

Following a bad run of injuries of late and some half-term related absences, Crediton arrived with 11 girls to play against Devonport’s 10.

The home side started the game with the favourable wind and driving rain working for them and scored two unanswered (converted) tries in the first quarter.

In the second quarter Crediton girls fought well and were very dominant in the scrum, winning one against the head set up a perfect platform for Charlotte to run in her first try of the afternoon, due to the wind and rain the conversion was missed.

Devonport then went over once more for an unconverted try making the score 19-5.

At half-time the wind and rain had died down/stopped so the Crediton girls didn’t manage to get the most of that advantage, but handling the ball started to become a little easier.

From the kick-off the Creddy girls started brightly, and Charlotte went over the whitewash in a well worked try (unconverted).

Megan came off with a suspected broken leg and our girls rallied and scored two more tries from Charlotte and Ava the latter of which was converted by Savannah.

Update: Megan is OK, she has a bad bruise on her shin with a big boot mark on it.

With eight minutes left to play, Kirton were up 19-22.

After some very challenging and fiercely contested play the home side managed to dot down in the far corner for a converted try. And with the following last play of the game they managed to sneak in for a further converted try bringing the final score to 33-22.

The game was very closely contested throughout and (considering the conditions) the handling and passing was fantastic.

U16s - Devonport Services/Plymouth Oaks (H) - Devon Cup

CREDITON’S second Devon cup game of the season and they hosted the combined might of Devonport Services and Plymouth Oaks.

The beginning of half-term and the visitors struggled to field a complete side with no experienced front row and only 13 girls in total.

Crediton agreed no flankers and unopposed scrums, but they were able to compete in the lineout. Kirton started playing uphill on the slightly wonky “Tuckers” pitch, however they attacked with intent and after an accurate tactical kick put the visitors under pressure leading to a lineout.

Three well-worked phases later and Crediton’s ever reliable scrum-half was under the posts. The visitors had some probing attacks with a powerful runner at full back and impressive number 10 often creating opportunity.

But the ever-vigilant defence were able to keep them in check and soon the home side had three more tries. The work rate uphill of the black and amber girls led to a bit of tiredness by the second quarter and Devonport were able to make some space and work the referee to go over twice in a short time. However, Crediton’s battlers fought back and by half-time they brought their total to five tries with one conversion.

In the second half the Crediton girls were downhill and taking it in their stride.

Devonport attacks still looked threatening, but the Crediton attack was full-court, full-team and Devonport were unable to reign them in.

By full time Crediton scored four more tries with one more conversion to leave the final score at 49-10. After five games the girls are unbeaten and were thrilled to notch up their second cup win in the Devon Cup Pool Stages. Coach Chris Rice said: “Another fantastic performance from this tight-knit group who are so keen to improve and so keen to work together.”

U18s - Devonport Services/Ivybridge (H) - Devon Cup

CREDITON U18s made their debut on the club’s River pitch for their second game in this year’s Devon Cup group phase.

Having played their opponents, Devonport Services and Ivybridge (D/I), combined earlier in the season, “loins were girded” for a bruising physical encounter, which would match the previous contests status.

With a 10-a-side game arranged the Crediton girls showed a real professional attitude, meeting early to warm up and run their moves so that débutantes and players out of position could familiarise themselves with the calls and their roles.

And it was this togetherness and attitude that carried straight over into the game.

The organisation at the breakdown, attack lines, defensive coverage and work-rate curtailed and rebuffed the D/I advances and allowed a black and amber shirt to be put in a position to break the line and put points on the board.

Kirton girls were relentless in the opening exchanges, racking up five unanswered tries which happened from all over the pitch and only sought to underline their grasp of the game.

The carrying of the ball into contact, the set and ruck defence for quick, but not rushed, possession was a true highlight of a dominant, controlled and ruthless game execution.

Even when D/I made it down to the black and amber line the defence held firm, tackling very much improved, counter rucking slowing ball and mistakes and errors forced.

D/I got onto the board after an injury break forced one of their players out, (a Creddy girl stepping in to help keep the game going), and a loss of concentration from the home side saw a red shirt crash over out wide.

Crediton shook off their malaise quickly enough though and returned to the rhythm that they had so effectively established and kept the scoreboard ticking over to increase the margin between the two teams.

Just before the break, D/I engineered a ball out wide and the Crediton girl now playing for them found herself in a foot race for the corner. However, it was not to be as a covering tackle mere inches from the line denied the score in the final play of the half.

The advantage that Crediton had in squad numbers played out in the second half.

With a plethora of changes available to them they were able to maintain not only the quality of play but, with fresh legs, also the quantity of drives, tackles, turnovers and the constant go forward attitude that was the refrain of the first half.

The girls from Devonport/Ivybridge must be acknowledged for the efforts and commitment.

Even as the scoreboard loaded up against them they never gave up, capitalised on any mistake made by the Kirton girls, showed inventiveness from set pieces and supported each other all over the park, picking up another try and coming close on occasion to adding to their tally.

The final recorded score of 55-5 sees the Kirton girls with two from two in the Devon Cup, but looking to improve further as the competition goes on.

The girls coaches said: “The two outstanding things we’ll take from today were; the teamwork and communication was a vast upgrade from our previous games and it was fantastic to see the specific things that we had worked on in training for the last couple of weeks repeated on the pitch to great effect.

“A real testament to the work that they have put in and their desire to improve.

“Special thanks to the two of our girls that played against us today.

“The fact that both of them so very nearly scored, allows us to be proud of our squad and the way we play the game.

“All in all it was a great day to be a Creddy fan, thank you to everyone that came along to watch and we’re delighted that you got to see the very best of us today.

“Thanks to those in the kitchen, not only for your efforts with the sausage and chips but the little extra raised for the Tour Fund.”