HONITON RFC 2ND XV 20-106 CREDITON RFC 3RD XV

ANOTHER dominant performance from the 3rds as we travelled to Honiton for a fixture against their 2nd XV. Unfortunately, Honiton had issues with availability but still managed to get 17 players together. The only problem was they didn't have a front row! As luck would have it, our only three replacements were all capable of filling those positions, so we kindly lent them Lewis Cook, Brad Perry and John Gurzynski to ensure we had competitive scrums and everyone got a proper game.

Straight from the off, we looked in fine form, scoring within minutes when Elliot White, who had answered a call to come and help his old team, sliced through the defence to score under the posts.

From a scrum in the middle of the park, we forced back our hosts and White again broke through the defence before offloading to Owen Cooper to score.

Tom Ayre and Captain Ben Rodd were in their usual fine form and the Honiton defence struggled to keep them at bay. After the pair of them crashed it up, the backs had an overlap, the ball was shipped out to Danny Parcell to race down the wing to score.

Joe Warren was up to his old tricks, finding gaps in the defence to score and then crossing again after taking the ball on halfway and dancing past four defenders to go over.

After a bit of ill-discipline, we were awarded a penalty and the ball was kicked up field for a lineout. The forwards put in an impressive mauling effort, ending with veteran Kevin Ellis scoring at the back. Next up, Warren completed his hat-trick with another effort from halfway.

Honiton hit back with a try out wide but straight from the restart, Paddy Brady went on a run, brushing off several defenders to score under the posts.

Parcell soon grabbed his second, but in the final minutes of the half, Honiton crossed for a couple of scores and we went into the break leading 15 – 59.

Honiton were first to score after the break and then the game had to go to uncontested scrum with an injury to Brad Perry.,

We ran in seven more tries from Danny Parcell, Ben Rodd, Owen Cooper, Paddy Brady and Joe Warren.

The game marked the senior debut of Colt Miles Jackson at loosehead, where he found himself up against coach John Gurzynski at scrum time. Jackson did not disappoint with a dominant performance and safe to say Gurzynski was a little sore the next morning. It’s great to see more young talent coming through.

At the other end of the spectrum, Barny Butterfield was kind enough to lend us his legs for the game and played hard and rallied the troops with gusto to ensure they never turned off the heat and Bobby Mogford managed a full 80 minutes, rolling back the years with a fantastic game of hard running and precision lineouts.

Harry Poole hard another great game doing all the nuts and bolts to ensure the ball was always on our side and Owen Cooper was on fine form with the boot slotting 13 conversions.

Man of the match went to Tom Ayre. Although he didn't get over the whitewash he had a dominant game with ball in hand sending the hosts defence flying on many occasions!

It was a true team effort from all involved and a great display of what the 3rd team has become. Honiton were gracious in defeat and really deserve praise for a great attitude and a great game, we wish them the best for the rest of the season and look forward to seeing them at Blagdon in the new year.

Scorers: Tries – Kevin Ellis, Ashley Bradnock, Elliot White, Ben Rodd (2), Owen Cooper (2), Paddy Brady (2), Joe Warren (3), Danny Parcell (4); Conversions – Owen Cooper (13).

John Gurzynski