Crediton 34 - Truro 12

WITH nothing resting on the outcome of this game, the single aim was to protect their 100 per cent winning record in league games at the Blagdon ground. 

Truro probably only had one objective also and that was to hang on to third place ahead of their fellow Cornishmen from Wadebridge. 

The fact that both Clubs achieved their target for the day meant that everyone went home happy!

Crediton opened the scoring after just five minutes with a simple but effective training ground move off a lineout which caught the visiting defence off guard. Anticipating the ball to be sent wide to the left, Truro left the short side virtually unattended and hooker Dan Yendell enjoyed a 10 metre dash to the line. 

Five minutes later and a penalty to the corner led to a catch and drive try for lock Josh Lee, neither conversion found its mark.

Not to be outdone, the visitors kicked a penalty to the corner and they too drove over for their opening try, the conversion closed the gap to three points. 

That completed the flurry of scoring in the opening 12 minutes. 

The slippery conditions were making life difficult for any handling moves although both sides did their best to run the ball. 

Defences remained on top and it was not until the half-hour mark that another driving maul ended with prop Phil Holmes going over. 

Ollie Avery-Wright converted and Crediton saw things through to the interval with a 17-7 lead.

Early second half pressure eventually brought some reward as Crediton played patiently through several phases before the ball was quickly moved to the right where flanker Ben Wonnacott, with a bit of circus skill, whipped the ball through his legs where winger Josh Hall caught and dived over for the bonus point try.

Try number five came after a bit of a kick chase and a race between Wonnacott and fellow back rower Jake Clarke and it was that latter that got the touch down, Ollie Avery-Wright converted for 29-7. 

Truro were still hunting to get something out of the game and were rewarded when they exploited a gap in Crediton’s defence to score out wide. 

However, the final word was Crediton’s when another driving maul and Ollie Avery-Wright made ground before a well-timed pass to Wonnacott whose equally well timed pass to Ollie Down who ran a good line inside and go over to score.

The final score of 34-12  was good value, Crediton created more chances but Truro kept going throughout, a game played in a good spirit and a nice way to round off the home league season. 

The league season finally concludes on Saturday, March 18 with a trip to North Petherton.

Crediton then move into the County Cup Competitions starting with a home game against Sidmouth on Saturday, April 1.

Crediton Quins 38 - Tiverton Seconds 14

There was still everything to play for in this final league game of the season with everything dependent upon Crediton Quins getting a win and OPM sustaining a loss at Exeter Athletic. 

As it turned out, Crediton Quins did their bit but OPM did not slip up although they failed to get a bonus point. 

However, they still topped the league by two points. Hooper 3, Macca, O’Donnell, Dodge - Ronchetti 4 con

The opening minutes were a bit like a test of strength as both sides looked to gain the upper hand and it certainly looked as though Crediton Quins had won that initial test when centre Tom O’Donnell crashed through the Tiverton defence to put the Quins 5-0 ahead. 

Unfortunately, the visitors had different ideas and began to make use of the advantage of the slope and kept Crediton under pressure. 

The Quins seemed to take their foot off the pedal and Tivvy swept into a 12-5 lead by the time the interval arrived. 

The half-time chat was something of a reminder of the situation they were in and that a win was necessary if they were to have any chance of winning the league. There was a definite need to pick up the pace and fortunately, the players got the message and took the game to Tiverton. 

The scrums had been evenly contested  throughout the first half but Crediton were beginning to gain control as the Tivvy scrum began to creak, added to that a well functioning lineout and Crediton dominated proceedings for long periods. 

Patient build up through several phases ended with No8 Chris Hooper going over from close range, fly half Tom Ronchetti added the extras to level the score.

The Quins continued the pressure and it was not long before the visitors conceded a penalty, Crediton opted for a scrum and a huge eight-man shove gave Hooper the chance of his second touch down, the extra two points were added by Ronchetti and Crediton were in full swing. 

The need for a try bonus point fuelled the desire in the team and it soon came with another bout of recycling possession before prop Macauley Jones crashed over out wide. The conversion drifted wide.

The backs were not going to let all the glory go to the forwards and a good three-quarter move was finished off by Joe Dodge, Ronchetti securing the additional two points. 

The final word however did go to the forwards with yet another dominant pushover try providing Hooper with the opportunity to complete his hat-trick, Ronchetti added the extras.

It was a very physical battle and no doubt a few sore bodies were waking up on Sunday morning. 

The players had put themselves in a position to take advantage of any slip up from OPM. 

However, it was not to be as they did gain a comfortable win against Exeter Athletic albeit without a bonus point and so Crediton Quins finished the season two points behind them. 

Nonetheless, this has been a fantastic season for the Quins, the first season that Second XV’s have been included in the league and Crediton has done exceptionally well. 

The players can be extremely proud of their performances throughout the league programme although the season is yet to finish as we embark on the Devon Cup Competitions. 

There is a Cup specifically for the Second XV’s that participate in the league. Unfortunately, a number of teams have withdrawn from the Cup Competition and have one game left to play in the “round robin” at home against Sidmouth on Saturday, April 1.

Tiverton Thirds 19 - Crediton Thirds 5

Played on Friday evening under lights at Tiverton two evenly matched teams produced a hugely entertaining game of rugby despite the conditions which resembled a mud bath! 

With players having difficulty in holding on to the ball, the game was a great advert for scrummaging! 

It was great to see so many players keen to have a game and maybe Friday evening games are something for Clubs to consider if it means more players make themselves available.

When Crediton did run at them, the Tivvy defence held firm until prop Dan Vertenten gained possession at the back of a maul and powered over for Crediton’s only points. 

The main difference between the sides was that Tivvy took their chances whereas Crediton did not.

Crediton Colts 3 - Ivybridge Colts 27

The Colts gave a good account of themselves and it was only in the final 10 minutes or so that the game was put beyond our reach. 

An early Freddie Blackburn penalty gave us a deserved lead as Ivybridge were forced into conceding penalties. 

The score inspired the players and Crediton camped on their line for lengthy periods. 

However, the visiting defence was in excellent form and Crediton were unable to gain that final yard to the try line. 

In contrast, Ivybridge were very clinical when they attacked although they spent very little time in Crediton’s “22” during the first half, they did reach the interval 10-3 up albeit Crediton had been reduced to 14 men with a yellow card.

The second half followed a similar pattern, Crediton could not break down their defence but with some pace out wide, Crediton were undone up the left touchline and at 15-3, Crediton were not out of it. 

Territorially Crediton had more of the game but that counts for little if they cannot score. 

A couple of tries at the end was a harsh lesson for Crediton and certainly the score flattered the visitors, although it would be fair to say they deserved their win.

The Colts entertain Devonport on Saturday, March 18 in what is termed a “double header” as Devonport were unable to fulfil the original fixture at Crediton a couple of weeks ago and so this game will be a battle for 10 points as there is no time to fit in the return fixture. 

Anything other than a defeat will see the Colts in the Shield Final against Sidmouth.

Paul Harris