Crediton 28 - St Austell 18

THE day of reckoning finally came to Blagdon on Saturday, February 18, when the League leaders, St Austell, were the visitors.

Both sides went into the game with impressive records, St Austell having lost only one league game all season, back in October 2022, when they lost away to Sidmouth whereas we had lost two league games, away at St Austell in November and at Wadebridge in December.

However, we still had a 100 per cent win record to protect on our own ground for this season, Keynsham being the last team to win at Blagdon in a league fixture back in February 2022, so all to play for.

Whatever the outcome of this top of the table clash, we were always going to require another team to take points off the leaders.

However, a bonus point win, whilst depriving the Saints of a point would certainly have gone a long way to help the cause.

As it turned out we achieved two of the three objectives with the win whilst at the same time preventing the visitors from gaining a losing bonus point which still leaves us with a mathematical chance of the promotion spot.

St Austell started the game full of intent and immediately set up camp in the our “22” when the kick off was not claimed cleanly.

Saints won a line out five metres from our line and from which they set up a series of strong pick and go’s which produced a magnificent series of defensive sets from us before eventually clearing our lines.

Such was the early St Austell dominance, it was 17 minutes into the game before we actually got into the St Austell half when we were awarded a penalty for a St Austell infringement in the contact area.

The kick to the corner and subsequent line out led to a training ground move around the front of the line out with Dan Lee racing in for the first try of the game, with Ollie Avery Wright adding the extras.

This was truly becoming a game of attrition for both sides with our defence remaining solid, snuffing out any threats by making strong first up tackles to negate any threats St Austell threw at them.

Our lead was increased on 21 minutes when St Austell were penalised for holding on in the tackle area and OAW made sure of the three points. The physicality of the game showed how much it meant to the players with both sides giving it their all.

On 30 minutes we were reduced to 14 men when Dan Lee was yellow carded for what the Referee deemed to be a dangerous tackle.

This was matched five minutes later when the St Austell prop was shown a red card for apparent dangerous contact to the head which meant the visitors would play the remainder of the game with 14 men.

As a result of the red card incident Crediton were awarded a penalty and OAW calmly kicked the three points to extend the lead further.

Just before half-time St Austell finally got onto the scoreboard with a penalty after we were penalised for a no arms tackle, making the half-time score 13–3 in our favour.

In fairness to St Austell their territory and possession stats were probably the better of the two teams at this point, but our defence had been outstanding, thwarting everything being thrown at it.

We started the second half on the offensive and took play deep into the St Austell half, but it was St Austell who were the first to score.

The exit kick which cleared their line rolled deep into our 22 metres area and into touch for a line out. Winning the line out St Austell set up a series of good phase plays before going over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Playing with a man advantage we responded almost immediately with a second try. A penalty was kicked to the corner and from the resulting line out we set up a series of strong driving mauls with Dan Yendell getting the final touch down, the conversion drifted wide.

St Austell came back with another series of attacking plays and 16 minutes into the second half they were awarded a penalty when again we were penalised for holding on in the tackle area, with the three points being duly kicked.

Minutes later they struck again and were right back in the game, scoring a converted try following a sustained period of pressure in our “22”, to level the score 18–18. Whilst a draw would have suited the visitors, it was of no real use to us, we need the win if we were to have any chance with the number of games running out.

Both sides continued to give no quarter, but we finally broke the deadlock 30 minutes into the half.

Following a sustained period of pressure in the St Austell red zone, we won a line out and set up a strong driving maul which saw Ben Wonnacott break off from the side to force his way over for a try, with Ollie Avery Wright adding the extras.

With five minutes of the game left we lost winger Bobby Jenkin to the sin bin and with St Austell mounting a final series of assaults on our line, it was a question of whether we would hold on to our lead.

Once again some outstanding defence kept St Austell out and we won good turnover ball which enabled us to clear our lines.

We were not finished yet and when we worked our way towards the Saints “22” the visitors were penalised for being offside on their 10-metre line and the penalty would be the final play of the game.

The penalty, welcome though it was, created something of a conundrum, do we kick to the corner in an attempt to get a bonus point try and perhaps risking an error and allowing the visitors to mount a last ditch attack and level the scores or kick the penalty for the three points and deny them a losing bonus point.

The decision was to opt for the latter and OAW kicked his third penalty of the afternoon to end an entertaining game 28–18 in our favour.

This game lived up to everything it promised to be, and probably more.

Both sides deserve enormous credit for an excellent game of rugby, and especially to St Austell for the way they kept battling for a break through, playing with 14 men for just over half the game.

But equally we played perhaps some of their best rugby of the season, with an outstanding defensive effort at times, to restrict a side that has scored more than 900 points this season to very few scoring opportunities.

The season is drawing to its close and St Austell have three games remaining, they travel to Wellington next Saturday, no easy task, followed by a home game against Newton Abbot and ending with a trip to North Petherton.

If any team is going to take points off the Saints, it is likely to be Wellington who are always tough opponents on their own patch.

That said, our run in is not an easy one with three away games starting at Chard on Saturday followed by Sidmouth and then a home game v Truro before winding up away at North Petherton. In effect, St Austell need 13 points from their remaining three games to guarantee promotion.

OPM 15 - Crediton Quins 7

Sadly, the Quins could not make it a double celebration with their top of the table clash as their run of poor form continued with a second successive defeat, this time at the hands of league leaders OPM.

Whilst the result has not ended the chance of promotion, again we are in the hands of others to do favours and take points off the Plymouth side.

We started well, winning the early collisions which resulted in some good field position however continuous poor handling and decision making meant we didn’t take advantage and couldn’t get ourselves on to the scoreboard.

Then against the run of play we missed a tackle on a kick chase and OPMs took advantage to score an unconverted try.

Then just before half-time a series of errors and penalties led to continued forward drives and the pressure from the heavier OPM pack proved too much for our defence and we conceded a try which was easily converted.

We started the second half with the same spirit and determination but once again handling error meant that we could not take advantage of the possession that we had gained.

Eventually Josh Goldman managed to find some space and out ran the defence for a try that Tom Ronchetti converted. But it was all too little and too late to apply enough pressure on the home side. Lost 15-7.

Ironically, the Quins are in an identical situation to the First XV as we are eight points behind the league leaders with a game in-hand.

OPM have two games remaining, at home against Cullompton Seconds and away at Exeter Athletic, neither game will be easy for them.

However, we have an away game at Exeter Athletic and two home games against Sidmouth Seconds and Tiverton Seconds and there are no easy games there either.

It could be that Exeter Athletic decide who goes up.

Exmouth Thirds 7 - Crediton Thirds 24

A tremendous result for the Third XV who completed the “double” over Exmouth Thirds and no-one can remember the last time that happened!

Both sides were up for the occasion, Exmouth to avenge the defeat early in the season and of course the Thirds to put it over on the Cockles for the second time. Both sides stretched the others defence to the limits and it was the home side that got the scoreboard moving with a try after considerable pressure on our line.

We responded fairly quickly, winning a line out and setting up a driving maul.

Prop Dan Vertenten controlled things at the back of the maul before touching down. The conversion attempt from Owen Cooper drifted wide. We reached the interval 5-7 down.

The second half saw a distinct improvement in our game with forwards and backs linking well with some impressive handling but we still found it difficult to break down the home defence.

In the final quarter, fitness began to tell and on this occasion it was not the Crediton players who were flagging.

We dominated the scrum and started to create gaps in open play with some hard running which led to three more tries through No 8 Liam Stait, and wingers Ieuan Evans and Travis Baker.

Fullback Owen Cooper landed two conversions to complete an excellent bonus point win for the Thirds.

Sidmouth Colts 20 - Crediton Colts 19

The Colts came up agonisingly short for the second time against Sidmouth in the Cup.  It was a tough one to take but take it we must and move on to next week.

It took nearly half an hour for the scoreboard to move, with neither side being able to dominate.  Arguably Sidmouth had the better of possession and territory but both defences were working hard, making scoring chances a rarity.

It was Sidmouth who took the lead with a converted try, although most people watching were surprised when the score was given as it was clear that the ball had been lost forward over the line.

We took it on the chin metaphorically before Freddie Blackburn took one on the chin literally.  A punch from a Sidmouth player saw a yellow card for foul play, with the offender extremely lucky it wasn’t red.

Just before the break we evened things up when Charlie Conner showed great strength to power over with several defenders on his back.  Tom Gray converted and it was seven all at half-time.

Sidmouth slotted a penalty early in the second period before Conner went over for his second try. Ben Wallis converted and we were 14-10 ahead.

The hosts hit back immediately with a second penalty before another converted try saw them take a 20-14 lead.

With time running out Ben Harris crashed over. The conversion was unsuccessful and when the ball went dead following the kick off, it was game over.  Final score 20-19.

This weekend we are at home to Bideford. With no other home games, the lads would love your support. It will be our fourth game against the North Devonians and with a win each, plus a draw in the three previous encounters it should be a cracker!

On Saturday the First XV travel to Chard, the Quins are at Exeter Athletic, the Thirds have a day off and the Colts are at home against Bideford.

Paul Harris