Chew Valley 69 v Crediton 3LEAGUE leaders Chew Valley were sitting pretty with maximum points from their opening three games and averaging in excess of 50 points a game. With a full strength side, this would have been a difficult task for us but with seven players unavailable from the team that beat Bridgwater last week, the prospect was a pretty daunting one.

Youngsters Joe Dodge and Matt Arnold, both just out of Colts were thrown in at the deep end at scrum-half and wing respectively and in fairness both acquitted themselves very well in what was a rapid and harsh learning curve. The enforced changes meant players playing out of position which only added to the disruption.

We did start brightly with some strong running from the forwards, Sam Rowe, Luke Mingo and Phil Holmes showing up well and with the home side lacking discipline at the breakdown, we did get points on the board first with a Josh Davey penalty.

However, midway through the first half, Chew Valley set the tone for the remainder of the game and a 10-minute spell brought them three tries, two conversions and a penalty for a 22-3 interval lead.

Further disruptions caused by injuries to prop Will Cole, Ben Wonnacott, Ethan Power and Sam Rowe all of whom were forced to leave the field reduced us to 14 and further injuries to Josh Pearce and Phil Holmes reduced them to passengers and the home side rattled up another 47 points in the second period.

A hefty defeat of course, but the players can certainly hold their heads high, a very inexperienced team against the free scoring league leaders, there will be better days ahead.

The opening quarter we gave as good as we got especially in the scrum where we were having the better of things. It will be interesting to take them on at home with everyone available and fully fit.

Exmouth Seconds 56 v Crediton Seconds 0

Life in Devon Merit Table One is pretty tough at the moment and the opening month will have seen us play what are probably the four strongest sides in the competition. It is not so much that we have played badly in fact at times we have had good periods in the game.

We seem to get caught cold early in the games and then hold things together for the middle period before falling away in the final quarter.

The game against Exmouth was of that nature, with four tries conceded in the opening 10-minutes, from then on we actually played some decent rugby and caused the Cockles a few problems in the scrum.

The lineout functioned pretty well but we were unable to create much as an attacking force.

The final quarter saw us leak more tries as a general lack of fitness kicked in. The simplest way to get matters to improve would of course be to train. Mistakes are not put right from game-to-game, they can only be put right on the training pitch. The answer is very much in the players hands

Crediton Thirds 14 v South Molton Seconds 17

South Molton Seconds arrived with two wins from two games and had not conceded a point so far in the Merit Table, and were probably favourites to take the spoils.

The fact that they did so was more by good fortune than anything else. Certainly in the first half, they were well worth their 17-point lead.

Their forwards provided a sound platform for the strong running back and they threw everything at us.

We slipped off a few tackles which made life much easier for them at times but in general, the defence was pretty good.

The second half was a complete turnaround and we dominated territory and possession although we did look vulnerable when South Molton attacked from deep.

However, the pressure eventually told and we scored two deserved and well- worked tries from Jack Reed and converted by fly-half Hayden Hill.

This was another side full of youngsters who benefitted from the experience of a few elder statesmen, including Wayne Reed, John Gurzynski, Brad Baker, Sam Miller and Peter Vallance.

What is even more impressive is the fact that whilst other clubs seem to be struggling with numbers and often seemingly unable to raise a second XV, we managed to put out second and third XVs each with five replacements.

Crediton Colts 32 v Okehampton Colts 21

Okey are always a tough nut to crack but in fairness to the Crediton side, the win was a little easier than the scoreline suggests.

The early exchanges were evenly shared although we did have a tendency to give away penalties when in good positions, allowing the visitors easy defensive exits.

However, a smart turnover gave Freddie Blackburn the opportunity to outpace the Okehampton defence for an excellent long range try.

Okey hit back strongly and they too bagged a try through their forwards, the conversion put them 7-5 ahead but that was as good as it got for them.

Blackburn completed his hat-trick and there was a try apiece for Louis Gulley and Tariq Sayers with Blackburn adding two conversions and a penalty.

Fixtures

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 2, the First XV host Wellington in a game sponsored by Graphic Plc, the Second XV travel to Ivybridge and the Colts entertain Ivybridge.

Paul Harris