Weston-super-Mare RFC 29 - Crediton 1st XV 19

THE final league fixture of the regular season sent Crediton 1st XV to Weston Super Mare, a side already crowned champions and carrying a remarkable record of 21 bonus point wins from 21 games.

Few teams in the country can boast that level of dominance, and the challenge ahead of us was obvious.

For our lads, the equation was simple on paper but far tougher in reality. Fifth place and the final playoff spot was still within reach.

To keep our season alive and earn another crack at Tiverton, we realistically needed one, if not two, bonus points, but rugby has a habit of ripping up the script.

As it turned out, our rivals for 5th played out a draw and so despite not taking any points on the day, our campaign will extend for at least one more week.

Very few would have given us any hope but the players and coaches don’t think that way and headed into the game with a plan.

Go full tilt and whatever happens we can be proud. So while we may have headed back down the M5 without any points, we certainly came home full of pride.

And so to the game, what we saw was a performance full of grit, attitude and sheer refusal to roll over.

From the outset, our defence was dogged and our commitment unquestionable. Against a side used to dictating terms, we disrupted their rhythm, unsettled their patterns and, for long spells, silenced a home crowd who had arrived expecting a coronation.

The lads showed the right mindset: no fear, no backing down, and absolutely no intention of letting the champions enjoy a stress free afternoon.

The scrum was a standout. Up against a big, physical Weston pack, we not only held our own but provided a solid platform that shifted momentum our way.

As the game wore on, belief grew. At one stage, a shock win genuinely looked to be on the cards, with Weston visibly rattled and their supporters unusually quiet.

We pushed, we chased, and we threatened to spoil their celebratory party, but champions find moments when they need them, and Weston did just enough to keep their perfect record intact.

Even so, this was a performance to be proud of. The attitude, the work rate, the physicality — all of it showed exactly what this group is capable of when they commit to the contest for 80 minutes.

The challenge now is simple: take this level of intent into the playoff!

Scorers – Tries; Brady, Cookson, Goldman – Cons; Davey (2).