PLYMSTOCK OAKS 71-12 CREDITON RFC 2ND XV

WE travelled to league-leaders Plymstock Oaks, knowing we would face a tough challenge against one of the strongest sides in the division.

In the first half, we competed well and matched Plymstock's forwards for long periods, taking the game to them and forcing them onto the back foot. However, their backs showed real quality on the counter-attack and capitalised on a number of our mistakes, turning opportunities into points.

Despite this, we continued to battle hard and were rewarded with a couple of well-earned tries that kept us in the contest heading into the break.

The second half belonged to the hosts. Their fly-half controlled the game superbly, directing play and bringing their dangerous backline into action. We struggled to cope with the speed of their passing and the accuracy of their handling, allowing Plymstock to build momentum and extend their advantage.

To the lads’ credit, we continued to work hard until the final whistle, but Plymstock's quality ultimately shone through as they ran out 71-12 winners.

While the scoreline was disappointing, there were positives to take from our first-half performance, particularly the way we competed up front against the league-leaders. We'll look to learn from the experience and bounce back in the weeks ahead.

Scorers: Tries – Ben Baxter, Jacob Robinson; Conversion – Jake Kibbey.

Next Saturday: 1st XV v Teignmouth (H), 3rd XV v Exeter Saracens II (H), Colts XV v Bideford (A).

Jay Harris