NORTH TAWTON 6 - CREDITON SECONDS 20

THE ‘Quins were honoured and delighted to have been invited to North Tawton for the official switch-on of their impressive new floodlights.

Tawts have facilities that would make many National league sides green with envy and they put on a really good evening in the face of adversity having been broken into the previous night.

Both sides put in a very committed performance which gave the game that real local derby atmosphere, something that in recent years has been lacking in the game.

The ‘Quins had much the better of things in the scrum although on occasions were penalised for getting the shove on a bit too soon and most attacking moves from each side were generally snuffed out with some robust defending at which both teams excelled.

The ‘Quins took the lead with a try out wide when fly-half Mark Lee stepped through a gap after the forwards had recycled possession.

With the penalty count against them, the ‘Quins then found themselves 5-6 down as home fly-half Dave Fewings slotted a couple. Tawts had a period of pressure but were kept some distance from the try-line as the ‘Quins defence held firm.

‘Quins flanker Dan Vanstone restored the lead with a well-taken try out wide and this was followed by one from prop Macaulay Jones who got the touch down after a driving maul for a 15-6 interval lead.

The second half saw both defences cancel each other out and the only score of the half came when Lee brushed through a couple of tackles for his second try of the game.

Fewings did cause problems for the ‘Quins defence with some clever chips over the top of the on-rushing defence and certainly they could have scored from at least one. However, the Crediton defenders did recover in time and managed to scramble the ball away.

Whilst the result is always important, this was more about the occasion, the floodlights are an excellent addition to the facilities at North Tawton and the evening was, I am sure, a huge success.

Devon Intermediate Cup

CREDITON FIRST FIFTEEN 20 - SIDMOUTH 27

In a repeat of last week’s league game, the outcome remained the same although both sides had plenty of changes in personnel from the previous game.

With 11 of last week’s squad not available it was an opportunity for other players to step up a level and on the whole they did extremely well and indeed the result could have gone either way.

The first half was evenly contested although the visitors reached the interval with a 6-3 lead, Josh Davey landing a penalty for us in response to two from Sidmouth.

The game sparked into life in the second half when full-back Rob Milton came into the line and touched down out wide and within minutes Davey added a second try after running a good angle to beat defenders and which he converted for a 15-6 lead.

Sidmouth found a way back into the game on the hour with a converted try and three minutes later went ahead with another seven pointer.

We then levelled and it was very much a case of the young feeding the old as debutant winger Bobby Jenkin evaded a couple of would-be tacklers before putting veteran prop Wayne Reed in for a try after the attack had spread from one side of the pitch to the other.

With the game nearing full-time, Sidmouth bagged the winning try which was converted for a 27-20 victory.

HONITONS SECONDS 15 - CREDITON THIRDS 31

The Third Fifteen put in an impressive team performance at Honiton scoring five tries in the process.

Confidence soared in the opening minute when centre Aidan Mason looped around the Honiton defence to score in the corner.

Things got even better five minutes later when the ball was spread wide to winger Shanon Bloye who proved too quick for the Honiton defence, full-back Phil Anning landed the conversion.

With the considerable slope in our favour, the players knew that they would need to take a 20-point advantage to the interval and maintained relentless pressure on the home defence.

That pressure brought them a penalty 15 metres out which was taken very quickly by the impressive Ed Marshall and he bulldozed over for Anning to convert.

Honiton had their moments and gained territory into our “22” but superb defending and a try-saving tackle from Mark Small kept them at bay.

With the interval approaching, Marshall again created havoc in the Honiton defence with his powerful run and eventually got the bonus point score which Anning converted for a 26-0 interval lead.

It soon became clear that the home side were going to use the slope to their advantage as they piled on the pressure.

It took a while but they opened their account with a penalty after we were caught offside. Another try and conversion quickly followed and for a while it looked as though 26 points in the first half may come under threat.

When Honiton bagged their second try they were within two scores with a quarter of the game to go.

We needed a bit of time on the ball in order to settle things down and the forwards obliged with some pick and drives keeping possession and gradually stem the tide.

Once again, the home side found themselves under pressure as we camped on their line in search of another score and, with 10 minutes remaining, and having gone through several phases with the forwards, the ball was moved wide for Small to crash over in the corner.

Sufficient breathing space was restored and we saw the game out comfortably.

It is certainly very noticeable how this side has improved both in ability and in how to manage the game.

Disciplined at the breakdown and the tackle area and knowing when to hold the ball in the forwards and when to release it to the backs.

Week-in-week-out they are playing against other Club’s Second Fifteen and these are hard fixtures but the spirit in the side carries them through.

COLTS

The Colts played at Newton Abbot who currently top their group in the Colts Shield Competition and but for a few injuries could well have sneaked a win.

The 20-12 defeat was disappointing for them but nonetheless there were many positives to come out of the game.

This is a developing side and in the main first year Colts, their time will come. Josh Woodland bagged another two tries, making 13 for the season with Conrad Saunders adding a conversion.

Fixtures for tomorrow, Saturday, November 25: First Fifteen away at Paignton; Second Fifteen home against Paignton Seconds and Third Fifteen home against Bideford Seconds.

Paul Harris