CREDITON RFC WOMEN XV 29-26 WINSCOMBE

SPRING may have been on the calendar, but it certainly hadn’t arrived at Winscombe.

A bitterly cold, damp afternoon set the scene for a hard-fought contest that would ultimately end with a bright and deserved finish for Crediton.

The hosts struck first, capitalising on slick pace and a lapse in defence to cross for an early converted try, opening a 7–0 lead.

Crediton responded with growing authority, particularly at the scrum, where dominance began to tell.

The defensive effort was outstanding, with Georgia especially influential over the ball and in the tackle, forcing turnovers and shifting momentum.

Sharp attacking play out wide created space for Elise to finish in the corner, though the conversion drifted wide to make it 7–5.

Winscombe’s impressive line speed continued to cause problems, arriving at the breakdown quicker and forcing a turnover that led to their second try. Their powerful centre broke through to score under the posts, converting to stretch the lead to 14–5.

Crediton refused to be rattled. A penalty relieved pressure before some excellent handling — despite a ball that seemed coated in butter — sent Ellen through under the posts. Rachel added the straightforward conversion and the gap closed to 14–12.

The game swung wildly moments later. Winscombe pressed inside the Crediton 22, only for Rachel to read the play perfectly and intercept.

She raced nearly the length of the pitch, only to be tackled just short of the line. With support slow to arrive, Winscombe turned the ball over and, showing blistering speed in transition, surged back to score a converted try of their own, pushing the score to 21–12.

The half was not without its casualties. A heavy collision in the front row resulted in hooker Kaitlyn leaving the field with a head injury, while stalwart Michelle battled on. Soon after, scrum half Katie — recently returned from a serious leg injury — was forced off with painfully bent fingers.

Just before the break, Crediton found renewed energy. The “two-metre queen” returned to the fray as the pack drove relentlessly towards the line, and Emma Davie forced her way over for a crucial try. The conversion again drifted wide, leaving Crediton trailing by just four points at half time: 21–17.

The second half began uphill, both literally and figuratively. An early knock on led to a strong Crediton scrum, followed by a penalty for Winscombe not rolling away. Crediton were unable to fully capitalise, losing the ball forward, but their intent was clear.

The second half also saw a senior debut for Imy Davies, a performance that marked her out as one to watch for the future. Packing a serious punch for her size, she ran some blisteringly strong lines throughout the half and proved a welcome addition to the squad.

With changes in the pack and fatigue beginning to show, this was the first scrum Crediton conceded ground at, though clean ball was still secured. Pod work improved noticeably from the first half, matched by better line speed to counter Winscombe’s attacking threat.

Georgia was forced off through injury, replaced by Samantha, and Crediton were awarded a penalty following a high tackle. From the resulting phase play, Holly Burrow broke through to score her first try of the game, pushing Crediton into the lead for the first time. The conversion missed, but the scoreboard now read 21–22.

Winscombe responded swiftly, striking back with another try to regain the lead at 26–22. The uphill battle made the second half feel even longer, but Crediton dug deep.

With 10 minutes remaining and another score needed, Crediton showed patience and composure, retaining possession and working tirelessly through the centre of the pitch.

Another Winscombe penalty proved decisive. Holly Burrow powered over for her second try of the afternoon, and Rachel kept her nerve to convert, swinging the score to 26–29.

Crediton defended resolutely to the final whistle. It was a performance built on grit, resilience and belief, and their determination over 80 demanding minutes earned them a thoroughly deserved victory.

Try-scorers: Emma Davie, Holly Burrow (2), Ellen, Elise. Conversions: Rachel (2). Forward of the Match: Michelle. Back of the Match: Elise.

Suzy Keast