THE Crediton Girls Under 13 squad were the undoubted stars of a mixed weekend of fortunes for the three age groups that make up the younger female contingent at the club, which bodes well for the coming years as they move up to the older age group next season.

U13s thump a combined South Devon Side in an awesome display?The continued improvements of the club’s youngest female side allowed them to easily overpower the visitors from Sidmouth and Paignton last weekend.

The girls in Black and Amber once again produced a fantastic display of running rugby coupled to some awesome defence, founded in their tackling which improves exponentially week-on-week.

Before the game the girls had been challenged to concentrate on seeing if they could off-load the ball before getting into contact to enable them to use their running game strengths to the full. The girls answer to the challenge was a resounding, “yes we can” but even they must have been surprised by the immediate and devastating effect it had as they swarmed all over the opposition for practically all of the game.

This new found freedom allowed Amy C and Isla to score their first tries of the season, indeed Isla capped a wonderful performance by taking the player of the day award for her try coupled to some big tackles and her all round play. ?The Captain for the day was Poppy Harrison who led the team as she always plays; on the front foot and leading her team in the best way possible, by outstanding example.

The Coaches, quite rightly, had nothing but praise for their young charges.?Try scorers; Poppy Harrison, Livvy, Amy C, Isla, Charley, Holly S, Maisie, Charlotte, Lucy and Imy.

The final score in the contest was Crediton 65 Sidmouth/Paignton 15 and it should be remembered that, with no conversions in the U13 game, this equates to a fantastic 13 tries to three.

U15s epic Cup Game ends in last gasp defeat

The Crediton Girls U15s suffered a rare defeat in an epic game of rugby on Sunday. Playing the girls from Sidmouth in their first game in the inaugural Devon Cup competition, the Kirton Girls got off to a dream start with a try virtually straight from the kick-off.

This proved to be an outlier in a game that had the crowd wincing at times such was the commitment from both sides to an attritional, at times brutally so, game where Crediton’s driving and rucking game was countered by the South Devon’s defensive line speed, tackling and counter rucks.

Crediton worked tirelessly to add another try and conversion to their tally and could have had more, forcing the ball over the line twice more only to be pulled back for scrums due to minor infringements in the build up play.

The half-time score of 12-0 left the game still very much in the balance though, especially with the Sidmouth team now attacking down the slope.

And so it proved to be, with the game ebbing and flowing, again very much around the combative rucks and mauls but with neither team able to gain too much advantage as both teams fought tooth and nail to regain possession and try to gain control.

The Black and Amber girls did, barely, hold the upper hand and did work themselves into a great position halfway through the second period, once again breaking through and over the line only to be very very unlucky in treading over the dead ball line and having the try disallowed as they tried to get the ball under the posts from a wide position.

As the game drew to a close the sheer effort of the match told all-round but a breakaway try from Sidmouth, with the conversion, left them only a score behind going into the last 10 minutes.

And that try breathed new life into the girls in green and with the advantage of the slope to help tired legs and their tails in the air Crediton had to fight hard to counter the renewed vigour with which Sidmouth came forward again and again. And they very nearly succeeded.

However, in the end and with the very last open play action of the game, another breakaway saw the South Devon side cross the line and with the conversion going over, followed immediately by the final whistle, the result finally swung Sidmouth’s way by the smallest possible margin of 12-14.

U18s take opportunity to forge links in walk over win

The girls of the U18 squad travelled to Paignton for their Devon Cup Game but didn’t even have to pass or kick a ball to move into the next round as the South Devon Side couldn’t put together enough numbers to make the game a contest.

A “Walk Over” win for the Black and Ambers was declared. So that the trip wasn’t a complete wash out, the Kirton Girls lent out members of the squad so that a friendly game could be contested and everyone got to play, and watch, some rugby.

This friendly, in which the Kirton Girls who’d moved over to be “opposition” shined, which helped create some great links between the clubs.

This desire to put the good of the game and participation for all above a win at all costs attitude is something which Crediton RFC both pride themselves on and are becoming renowned for across the county.

With more than 80 girls across the three age groups consistently attending training and matches this philosophy allows for numbers that other clubs envy and provides a magnificent platform for all ages and abilities to develop their skills and enjoy an environment where they are encouraged to build relationships within their squads that will last into the future both on and off the field.