CREDITON RFC 3RD XV 71-5 HONITON 2ND XV

IN a fitting tribute to the man that did so much for rugby in Devon, all four teams playing at Honiton lined up and held an emotional minute’s applause in memory of Paul Harris.

With knowing how much Paul did for the Merit table and also for us in the 3rds the message in camp was “let's do it for Bomber!”

With that in mind we came out of the blocks all guns blazing.

Pinning Honiton down the slope in their own ‘22, when trying to clear their line Callum Anthony charged down the kick, gathered and went over for a try in the first two minutes. Owen Cooper converted.

Next up, from a lineout on the ‘22, we mauled down to the five-metre line and it was Anthony again who broke off the back and charged over, Cooper again converting.

After more pressure and our hosts giving away a few penalties, we kicked to touch and another successful catch-and-drive line-out 10 metres out saw Captain Joe Crocker go over at the back of a well-controlled maul to score.

After a bit of pressure from Honiton, we slipped up and gave away a penalty. The host kicked for touch but it didn't quite make it and landed in the safe hands of Danny Parcell in our own ’22.

With skill, determination and a lot of pace, he sliced through many attempted tackles, sprinted down the wing to score his first try for Crediton 3rds under the posts! Cooper was successful with the conversion.

Following the restart, the forwards made their way down the pitch. The ball was passed out to Joe Warren, who crashed through the defence from the ‘22 to score, Cooper converting.

The final score in the first half came after many attempts to cross the line from pick-and-goes, Harry Poole managed to crash through for five points, Cooper adding the extras.

A brilliant first half gave us a commanding 0-40 lead at half-time but it was now our turn to play up the slope so we knew we had to dig deep and not let our lead slip.

We started the second period with a very dominant scrum on the ’22, putting the hosts on the back foot and Tariq Sayers ran a fine line off Cooper at scrum half to get the scoreboard moving again.

Another penalty kick to the corner and a well drilled catch and drive then saw the evergreen Wayne Reed go over for his fifth try in five games.

Sayers then crashed in for his second after a ‘22 drop out from Honiton was caught by Cooper and he set the backs off running.

Another dominant scrum followed, and it was scrum-half Cooper who danced his way through to score before our final try from full back Joe Warren who caught the ball on the half way line and sprinted through the defence to score under the posts.

After some pressure on our line, Honiton scored a consolation try to finish the game.

A special mention to Elliot Butterfield who, in the absence of Ben Rodd led the defence charge taking down anything that came his way and leading an extremely youthful but determined example with a man-of-the-match performance!

Credit goes to our hosts Honiton for never giving up and keeping the game in good spirits. We wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

That one's for you, Bomber!

John Gurzynski