CREDITON 13 - CHARD 3

THE weather conditions last Saturday (September 23) made life extremely difficult for both sides and scoring opportunities were at a premium.

However, we came through a very tough encounter to record our fourth successive league win, the first time since 2005 that we have won our opening four games.

The win keeps us in second place, a point behind Sidmouth.

The game never reached any great heights in part due to the continual rain which did not cease until the final whistle!

Despite an advantage at the scrum and some long periods of possession, Chard never really looked capable of breaching our defence.

We started brightly and created an early opportunity but were unable to put it away although an Oli Down penalty on three minutes started the scoreboard moving.

The game developed into a mid-field battle with both defences gaining the upper-hand. A second penalty from Down doubled the lead on 20 minutes but the visitors hit back with one of their own on the half-hour.

The game came to life shortly before the interval when we camped on their line and phase after phase kept us inching forward.

Unfortunately, we decided to go wide at probably the wrong time and ended with a Chard scrum just inside their ‘22’ much to the consternation of the forwards!

However, within a couple of minutes we were back on their line and this time it was Ben Wonnacott who picked up at the ruck and darted over on the blind side for his fourth try of the season. Down converted from the touchline for a 13-3 interval lead.

Chard began the second half in determined fashion and, realising they had an edge at scrum time, kept battling away through their forwards but our defence was in an unforgiving mood and there was no way through although they dominated possession for the opening quarter there was never a threat to our line.

Once we managed to get hands on the ball, we looked the more likely side to score, but these days, games are built on defence and most sides have the ability to snuff out the threats.

The second have fizzled out as Chard were forced to attack from deep and failed to make use of the wind advantage but instead they tried to work their way out of their half through the forwards, which also used up time.

When you are chasing the game, time seems to run down quickly and perhaps it would have been more productive to put boot to ball and apply pressure through the kick and chase.

In the final minutes it was only a superb tackle from scrum-half Ed Brady that prevented a score in the corner in what was the closest that the visitors had got to scoring.

Both sides deserve credit for trying to play an expansive game in conditions that were certainly unhelpful.

So we move on to Winscombe tomorrow (Saturday, September 29) to take on a side of unknown quantity.

We have never played them before at any level although the ladies teams did play each other last January and we recorded a 12-0 victory.

Winscombe finished in 11th place in Western Counties North last season and were level transferred across to Western Counties West in order to balance out the numbers in the leagues.

They have started this season in mid-table with two wins and two defeats, having won both their home games against Chard (18-12) and Bideford (31-0).

Their two defeats were at Sidmouth (36-7) and St Austell (31-3) so whilst they may not travel well, they do seem to be a tough side to beat on their own ground.

I suspect the only form guide would be that we have both played Chard at home and won by similar margins so I suspect a closely fought encounter.

’QUINS

The ‘Quins travelled to Teignmouth for a Merit Table game and battled hard before eventually losing 7-18. Winger Tom O’Donnell bagged the try which skipper Dan Cooper converted.

HORNETS

The Thirds travelled to Topsham by train but unfortunately their game went off the rails against a much weightier home side, losing 5-39, Deyan Tomic scoring the solitary try.

COLTS

The Colts made it five from five with an emphatic victory over Mid Devon rivals, Tiverton.

The first half was very evenly contested and at the interval, it was all square at 12 points apiece.

However, Crediton took complete control in the second half and added another 33 points without any reply.

Will Crang and Josh Woodland both scored a hat-trick of tries and there was one for Joseph Crocker and Woodland converted five.

Crang and Woodland have scored 20 tries between them in the five games.

Fixtures tomorrow, Saturday, September 29: First Fifteen away at Winscombe (us leaving at 11am – supporters are welcome to travel on the bus); Second Fifteen at home against Newton Abbot; Colts at home against Exeter Athletic.

Paul Harris