CREDITON RFC 2ND XV 26-7 OPM RFC 1ST XV

THE 2nd XV rounded off the season in style with a well‑earned home win over OPM 1st XV. As has been well documented, it’s been a tough campaign for the 2nds, but this performance was a reminder of exactly what this group is capable of when they click.

OPM arrived with a lumpy pack and, it seemed, a chip on their shoulder about our selection, particularly the inclusion of players who had featured for the 1st XV the previous weekend. What they failed to appreciate was that the five players in question had made just 19 first‑team appearances between them all season, and two of them are still Colts. The squad also contained a further three Colts gaining valuable senior rugby experience.

We started brightly, controlling territory well with full‑back Ben Pulfer using his boot to pin OPM back. Unfortunately, as has too often been the case for Crediton sides this year, penalties became our undoing, and ill‑discipline repeatedly handed our visitors a way out.

Having shown real dominance in the game’s first scrum, OPM doubled down on the set piece whenever penalties came their way, repeatedly turning down territory in favour of another shove. It was clear they were hoping for a yellow card as we were penalised at successive scrums, but the tactic proved fruitless and ultimately failed to give them any meaningful scoring opportunity.

Instead, after 20 minutes it was us who struck first. We were awarded a penalty at scrum time and Chris Hooper reacted quickest, tapping and diving over to put us 5–0 ahead.

Five minutes later, winger Josh Edwards recovered a box kick just outside the OPM 22, sparking an attack that ended with fellow winger Joe Dodge crossing for our second try. Jake Kibbey added the extras and the lead stretched to 12–0.

The scrum and penalty count continued to cause problems, but we were showing real promise in attack and defending with an intensity that kept OPM under pressure whenever they had ball in hand. On the stroke of half‑time, OPM had a straightforward penalty to cut the deficit, but the attempt drifted wide.

A few personnel changes at the break injected fresh energy, and we started the second half with real intent. Replacement Euan Philip made an immediate impact, scoring within five minutes, with Kibbey converting for 19–0. Two minutes later, another replacement, Cameron Vooght, made his presence felt, finishing off a superb multi‑phase move. Kibbey again added the extras and suddenly we were 26–0 up.

It looked like we might run away with it, but credit to OPM, as their scrum threat faded, they dug in and put together some strong phases of their own, eventually earning a converted try.

The final 25 minutes saw us dominate territory and possession, but despite controlling the game, we couldn’t add to the score. The match finished 26–7.

The lads should take huge credit for the performance. The forwards stuck at it when the scrum battle was tough and delivered when it mattered. The backs looked sharp when they opened up, and the whole team put their bodies on the line defensively. A cracking way to end the season.