CREDITON 13 - CHARD 10

HAVING slumped into the relegation zone after the previous weeks defeat at Burnham, the fixture with Chard on January 13 became a must win game.

However, for the second successive week we found ourselves a try down within three minutes after the visitors set up a driving maul and forced their way over.

It was soon apparent that Chard held an advantage in the pack and such was their confidence that on three occasions they turned down the chance of three points and instead opted to kick to the corner and go for the catch and drive.

All three efforts were defended extremely well and the chances for the visitors disappeared. We gradually got ourselves back in the game and put pressure on the Chard line but could not get the all important score.

Centre Oli Down did reduce the arrears with a penalty on 15 minutes but with both defences on top chances were few and far between and there was no further scoring before the interval although we were reduced to 14 when flanker Jake Clarke was sin-binned having been caught offside once too often.

The second half saw much of the same although Chard were unable to make use of their numerical advantage due to some magnificent defending.

Some fresh legs in the forwards during the second half saw the scrum begin to get an advantage over the previously dominant Chard pack.

The game changed on 65 minutes when Down slotted a penalty to put us ahead by a point but within eight minutes the visitors were back in front.

A penalty kicked to the corner set up a driving maul which was defended, albeit illegally and from the resulting penalty, Chard again went to the corner and this time managed to get over the line for a 10-6 lead with seven tense minutes remaining.

When you are chasing the game, the time goes quickly and when defending a lead it tends to drag and with two minutes remaining, a Chard clearance to our “22” was collected by full-back Rob Milton. We attacked down the right before setting up a ruck and then going left, winger Andy Smerdon made good ground before being tackled but the support was there and again the ball was moved through the hands with Mark Nott making good yards, another ruck and this time Clarke put a grubber kick through which was deflected into touch by a Chard defender for a lineout on their “22”.

Josh Pearce comfortably won the lineout and the driving maul was set up although held up two metres out and it was Pearce who peeled off the back and with two players assisting, he got over the line in the corner.

Oli Down landed a difficult conversion from the touchline and all we had to do was hold on for a minute or so for the final whistle and when it came it was easy to sense the relief around the ground.

Overall, and despite the early setback, we stuck to our task and once again the defence was outstanding.

Chard will no doubt feel they could have won the game and will probably have learned the lesson about building your score by taking the points when they are on offer.

The fact that we were only two points adrift at the interval meant we were still in the game and there was added pressure on the visitors not to concede penalties in range of their posts.

With some tough games looming, Kingsbridge and Devonport away being the next two games, it is important that we take something from them.

CREDITON ‘QUINS 24 - IVYBRIDGE SECONDS 12

For the second week running the ‘Quins came up against a side whose First Fifteen play two levels higher than ourselves and for the second successive week we matched them and earned a well-deserved victory.

Ivybridge were second from top in the Merit Table having lost only twice so this was a huge win for us.

Forced to make a number of changes and only able to carry two replacements, the prospects did not look too bright especially as Ivybridge are one of the more skilful sides in the Merit Table.

However, the ‘Quins played with a determination that perhaps other sides do not possess and which saw them to a victory which was never assured until the final whistle.

Flanker Chris Hooper got the first score from a pushover early in the game, converted by fly-half Tom Ronchetti and several more opportunities came our way but we could not add to the score and it was Ivybridge who levelled the scores with a converted try.

Having had the benefit of the slope in the first half, it was inevitable that we would be up against it for the second period.

However, as is often the case, playing up the slope focuses the mind a bit more and players realise they have to work harder.

Hooper then added a second try and Ronchetti chipped in with another and converted both.

The visitors hit back with a converted try and went all out to get level but a ‘Quins attack yielded a penalty which Ronchetti eased over and time ran out for Ivybridge.

The victory moved us up to fourth in the table behind, Newton Abbot, Okehampton and Ivybridge, a very creditable performance.

TOPSHAM SECONDS 52 - CREDITON THIRDS 10

Topsham Seconds proved too strong for the Thirds who nonetheless put up a vallient performance.

With a young side, Topsham had pace almost everywhere on the park which we found difficult to contain.

CREDITON COLTS 0 - EXMOUTH COLTS 50

With the game switched to Crediton due to the pitch at Exmouth being waterlogged, the visitors put in a powerful performance to win comfortably.

That said, the Crediton team earned high praise from the referee for the manner in which they played, heads did not drop and but for some handling errors would have had a few tries themselves.

FIXTURES

Tomorrow, Saturday, January 27 the First and Second Fifteen’s are away at Devonport. A bus leaves the clubhouse at 11.30am, returning by 9pm and supporters are very welcome.

The Third Fifteen are at home against Honiton Seconds.

If home games are off the clubhouse will be open for televised rugby.

Paul Harris