CREDITON COLTS 15 - CULLOMPTON COLTS 31

IF this was the last action at Blagdon for a while, we were fortunate to see a highly competitive and entertaining game of rugby for which the players and coaches of both Colts sides deserve credit.

Cullompton were worthy winners but, while the final score of 15-31 may sound relatively comfortable this was, for the most part, an even contest.

Keen to put the disappointing performances of recent weeks behind them, the Kirton lads started the game strongly and with great intent. We were able to control possession, forcing Cully into conceding a number of penalties which allowed us to play the game in the right areas.

On a couple of occasions we came close to scoring but the visitors defence was looking solid and we were penalised giving them the opportunity to exit.

Our excellent start had not produced any reward until, with 25 minutes gone, No 8 Liam Bayley broke through the defensive line around half-way. With only one thought on his mind he set off on a rampaging run down the touchline to score in the corner. The conversion was missed and it was 5-0.

We hadn’t had everything our own way and the visitors had shown glimpses of how well they could play.

On 32 minutes a smart break up the blind side from the Cully scrum-half set up a good attacking position.

The move continued with a strong run by the visiting “8” before the ball went wider and a try was scored close to the posts. A successful conversion made it 5-7.

Our response was immediate. Having managed to regain possession from the kick off, several forwards made telling runs at the heart of the Cully defence.

The ball was moved right and we made good ground, getting within a few metres of the line leaving it to prop Liam Newstead to pick and power over.

The simple conversion was missed and the half time whistle blew with the score 10-7.

We were deserving of the lead but the team talk at the break clearly stirred Cullompton and they came out firing for the second period.

Under pressure, we were thankful for an excellent last ditch tackle to keep them out. However, a couple of phases later the red and blacks scored to go ahead 10-14.

This didn’t put us off our game and we enjoyed another good spell. We were picking and driving well but coming up against an effective Cully defence.

We needed some patience to break them down but ran out of it, attempting a grubber kick to try and get in behind them.

Unfortunately, the kick didn’t quite work out and it gave the visitors a chance to counter through their pacey left-winger.

Setting off from his own “22” he was dragged down deep in our half. The ball was kept alive and the move ended with a converted try.

This was followed fairly swiftly by another five-pointer and suddenly we were 10-26 down with 15 minutes to go.

The likelihood of us turning it around from here was slim but despite this we continued to enjoy a decent share of the game.

We won a penalty on 65 minutes and kicked to the corner. The lineout was good and the resulting maul ended with prop Tobias Rimbon-Whittaker touching down.

At 15-26, could we push for a bonus point in the last few minutes? It wasn’t to be and with the last play of the game, Cullompton finished with a flourish to make the final score 15-31.

The boys put in a cracking shift which was a massive improvement. We played some really good rugby and with a little more patience here and there may have taken something out of the game which, in all fairness, we probably deserved.

That is taking nothing away from Cullompton who are a very good side. After a difficult first half they upped their game and fully deserved their win. Top effort and well played both sides.

Losing skipper Ethan Sibley, with a fractured ankle, was a big blow and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

So now we wait. It seems inevitable that we will be taking an enforced break but hope that there is still some rugby to be played this season.

Jay Harris