CREDITON RFC 3RD XV 56-19 EXMOUTH

WE welcomed Exmouth 3rds to Blagdon for a fantastic game of true 3rd XV rugby!

Exmouth brought a big pack and strong backs but it was our lads who came out on top on home soil.

Availability challenges that impact the 1st and 2nd XVs ultimately hit the 3rd XV and, as with the 1sts and 2nds, the ranks were boosted by a number of Colts.

Joe Stanbury, Bertie Johnstone and Kieran Wallis all put in 100 per cent and showed us what great talent is coming through to senior rugby next season!

We opened the scoring after some good team phases in the ‘22 lead to Joe Warren hitting a fine line off Tom Cooper to score the opening try which Cooper converted.

A pinpoint throw from young Stanbury followed, allowing the forwards to have a little trundle before the ball was released to Cooper who ran in under the posts to score.

As the first quarter came to a close we were dealt a massive blow as Cooper had to leave the field with a knee injury - we wish Tom a speedy recovery!

Owen Cooper stepped in at fly half and Sam Reed went back to his favoured position of scrum-half making room for Ryan Styles to come off the bench in the centre.

After a penalty kick to the corner and another fine lineout the forwards set up a strong maul with Bertie Johnstone controlling the ball at the back to go over for five points. Owen Cooper took over kicking duties and slotted the extras points.

The forwards continued to put together powerful phases. Ryan Styles and Joe Warren linked well with Joe Warren going over for another try under the posts, Cooper converted.

We were then reduced to 14 men as Kieran Jones must have had some mud in his ears and failed to listen to the referee’s instructions, resulting in a yellow card!

The mighty 3rds pulled their socks up to ensure no advantage was given to Exmouth and it was the man of the match Joe Warren who fired a massive kick from our ‘22 which Danny Parcell gathered and set off down the pitch passing back inside to Styles who again linked with Warren for, what in football parlance was an old one-two, and Styles went over to score.

The forwards were keeping the set piece steady against a strong pack and it was Callum Anthony who fancied himself as a back after taking the ball off a ruck on our own ten metre line to canter through many defenders and run in a superb individual try to seal the half off at 42-0.

Exmouth clearly had some strong words at half time and came out strong in the second half using their big runners to score under the posts within two minutes; the conversion was unsuccessful.

This seemed to rattle the lads a bit and things started to slip. After a few penalties from our ill-discipline, Exmouth scored a very well worked team try.

There was a danger Exmouth would get a foothold in the game but this was stopped in its tracks.

Kieron Wallis, who, since entering the fray had made a real nuisance of himself, stealing opposition lineouts and generally making it uncomfortable for the visitors, got the ball just inside our half, stretched his legs and galloped past four defenders to score a cracking solo try. Cooper added the extras.

Our last score came when Warren put in a cross kick which was gathered by Styles who went over in the corner. Cooper was successful again with the conversion.

Exmouth rounded off the scoring and when the final whistle blew it was a 56-19 win for the mighty 3rds!

Thanks to Exmouth for a great game of grassroots rugby which we always have against them. We’ve enjoyed great games with them for many years and we always know it's going to be a good day for all when we meet. We wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

Coming up on Saturday, March 14: 1st XV – no game, 2nd XV v Withycombe (H), 3rd XV v Teignmouth (H), Colts XV v Camp Hill (H).