PAIGNTON 30 - CREDITON 15

FOR the third successive week the First Fifteen have taken to the field minus a number of regulars and whilst we matched our hosts try-for-try with three apiece, we were unable to take advantage of the territory and possession that we had during the first half.

The home side were out of the blocks very quickly and were seven points up with two minutes gone after a dash up the touchline by their winger caught us napping.

Once we settled into the game, we began to dominate and eventually reduced the arrears with a well-worked try off a driving maul which ended with centre Chris Simpson touching down.

We continued to press and were certainly looking dangerous whenever we set the driving maul going and with a little more patience could have added at least a couple more tries.

As it was we had to settle for just one more before the interval when Simpson broke a few tackles and managed to pop the ball inside to centre Devon Hosegood who finished off.

Just when it looked as though we might reach the interval with a three-point advantage, Paignton were awarded a penalty which they promptly put over to level the scores.

The second half belonged to the home side as they now had the advantage of the slope and certainly made that advantage count.

Our defence held out as it always does but the constant pressure inevitably took its toll. Firstly a penalty followed by two converted tries and we were out of the game and struggling even to get into losing bonus point territory.

The only real surprise was that with Paignton on three tries and 17 points clear, they opted to kick another penalty rather than look for the bonus point try.

Nonetheless that is what they did to take them 20 points clear.

We did gain a bit of respectability with a try in the final minute, a penalty kicked to the corner set up a driving maul which ended with scrum-half Ed Brady going over in the corner.

It is just such a shame we did not persevere with that tactic in the first half when the opportunities to do so were there.

CREDITON SECONDS 20 - PAIGNTON SECONDS 15

Crediton Second Fifteen welcomed Paignton Seconds to Blagdon for a Devon Merit Table One fixture and right from the kick off it was evident that there would be little to choose between the sides.

With numerous players not available or injured, and with first team call ups, the ‘Quins initially found it difficult to establish any patterns of play and when they did settle down they found the Paignton defence rock solid.

It took until the 32nd minute for the first breakthrough when we were a man down with a player in the sin bin, and missed a tackle in mid-field which gave Paignton a clean line break to race over for an unconverted try which was the only score of the first half.

We then made some positional changes at half-time and started the second half full of intent and, right from kick off No 8 Rob Guthrie chased down the kick putting pressure on the Paignton catcher who dropped the ball and Andy Hawkes was on-hand to pick up the loose ball to race in from 22 metres for a try, Josh Davey adding the extras.

Crediton fell foul of the referee again and a second Crediton player was sent to the bin for retaliation. From the resultant penalty kick to the corner Paignton won the line-out and set up a strong driving maul to go over for a converted try.

The ‘Quins went right back onto the offensive and following a period of pressure in the Paignton “22” the visitors were penalised for going over the top of a ruck and Josh Davey converted the penalty.

Paignton added a penalty on 60 minutes for a high tackle which saw a third Crediton player sent to the bin and which put them five points clear.

The ‘Quins began playing a more structured game creating numerous phases of play and eventually set up Tom Ronchetti for a well-taken drop goal.

Paignton continued to come back at Crediton and it was only due to a tremendous defensive effort by all the Crediton players which denied them a further score.

The game was starting to break up as both sides probed for an opening and on 71 minutes Mark Lee hit a good line to break the Paignton defence to go over for a try with Josh Davey adding the extras to make the final score 20-15 to Crediton.

Considering the number of players out this was a good result against a decent Paignton side who always looked dangerous, but a sterling defensive effort by Crediton kept them at bay.

CREDITON THIRDS 12 - BIDEFORD SECONDS 19

Bideford Seconds were finding the going a bit tough in Devon Merit Table One and as a consequence they have dropped down to the second tier and are fulfilling the fixtures of their now defunct Third Fifteen.

Of course this is yet another Second Fifteen that our thirds are coming up against week after week. However, these fixtures don’t seem to faze this side and once again they proved as good as their opponents.

Certainly they lost but this was against a side with several players who have played for Bideford First Fifteen at level six and to lose by one score was a tribute to the Crediton players.

Prop Sam Phillips and winger Shanon Bloye each scored a try with a conversion from Phil Anning.

Unfortunately, Shanon Bloye suffered a broken jaw during the game and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

Paul Harris