THE year 2017 has not started too well for any of the Crediton Rugby Club senior sides, the First Fifteen suffering two defeats at Devonport and at home against Exeter University; the Seconds also losing twice, at Devonport and Exmouth.

DEVONPORT SERVICES 29 - CREDITON 10

The Firsts game at Devonport was somewhat disappointing although we really did not deserve the 29-10 scoreline. We genuinely felt that at least two of their tries were, to say the least, dubious.

However, the referee has to give decisions as he sees them and of course it is very easy to see it differently from the touchline.

The opening 15 minutes was all about Devonport having to defend but for all our possession we were unable to break down their defence.

Once the home side had weathered the storm they began to look dangerous in attack and before the interval had racked up a 19-3 lead, their third try being a penalty try from what was given as a deliberate knock on, certainly a harsh decision to say the least as we felt the ball had gone forward in a tackle.

We came back into the game in the second half and when No 8 Mark Nott took a quick penalty and forced his way over we seemed to be back in contention. Young full-back Jake Attwill converted to add to his earlier penalty and we were only nine points adrift.

Devonport secured the win and a bonus point with a fourth try late in the game.

DEVONPORT SECONDS 27 - CREDITON SECONDS 5

For many of the ‘Quins players this was their first encounter with an artificial pitch and it proved a decisive factor in the outcome.

The home side took an early lead with a penalty and when winger Phil Anning went off with a head injury, the ‘Quins were forced to use their solitary replacement early in the game.

However, we did begin to get into the game and for a period dominated proceedings but in the 35th minute and against the run of play, Devonport scored when the ball went out wide and their winger outpaced the defence to score. An almost identical try followed right on half-time.

The second half began with Crediton dominating proceedings and from a penalty. The decision was taken to go for the scrum a few metres out.

The dominant Crediton pack then forced the home pack into conceding a number of penalties which should have led to a penalty try. Bizarrely though the referee made no move to award one even after the 10th penalty!

The dominance was eventually rewarded when No 8 Jamie Cheffins broke off the back of the scrum and scored.

Two tries, one converted, in the last five minutes secured a flattering win for the home side.

CREDITON 0 - EXETER UNIVERSITY 17

For the third successive game we came up against a top three side and the University, with promotion in their sights, was determined to gain a bonus point win.

They got the victory but the fact that they missed out on a bonus point was down to some magnificent defending.

Apart from the final 10 minutes, we never really looked threatening. Starved of possession especially in the first half, we had little to work with.

The students had possession aplenty and tried everything to break down the Crediton defence and it took 20 minutes to do so with a well-worked try.

The pattern of the game remained the same and they bagged a second try shortly before the interval when we were down to 14 men and they scored in the corner.

The second half saw us with a bit more of the ball but the University defence was pretty solid and when a clever cross kick found their winger in space, provided he caught it the task of scoring was a simple one as proved the case.

With no further scoring, the University had to settle for just the win points.

EXMOUTH SECONDS 50 - CREDITON SECONDS 5

The ‘Quins knew this would be a tough game and so it proved to be. The Cockles have a very strong Second Fifteen as would be expected with many of their players having plenty of experience at National league level.

The opening quarter was evenly contested although the home side looked the better organised and once they had taken the lead, the tries came at regular intervals.

The opener was from a driving maul, soon followed by one from their backs who ran back a clearance kick to score out wide.

Two more followed before the interval leaving us 26 points adrift at half-time.

Changes at half-time failed to stem the flow and the Cockles went further ahead when their forwards controlled a maul before letting the ball out for the backs to score.

The ‘Quins responded and got on the scoreboard with a well-taken try from prop Phil Holmes but Exmouth came back with three more tries in the final 10 minutes to seal a comfortable win.

Exmouth are a very good National Two League reserve team. The main difference is that it was patently obvious that they train regularly together as their organisational and game management skills were superior to Crediton’s, but this is something that Crediton could easily emulate if they put the same amount of effort in.

The Third Fifteen had mixed fortunes over the two weeks with a resounding 50-21 victory over Honiton Seconds with tries from Dan Lewis and Paul Hawkins each with two, and one apiece for Joe Rogers, Ed Marshall, Sam Harper and Shannon Bloye.

The kicking duties were shared with Sam Locke and Sam Ronchetti each converting two and Ben Jackson one.

The following week the Thirds fared a little better than the ‘Quins in their fixture with Exmouth Thirds. Ben Jackson and Shannon Bloye each scored a try with Sam Locke converting one in the 12-59 defeat.

The back row of Kev Ellis, Tim Garner and Andy Dafters was as experienced a partnership as has played for some years with a combined age of 148!

With Alan Lovell making an appearance from the bench we could also lay claim to having a grandad in the side.

After their outstanding victory against Ivybridge, there were high hopes for the Colts in their pursuit of a place in the Colts Cup final.

However, two very narrow defeats have reduced their chances of making that final. There is still plenty to play for though and whilst they can ill afford further losses, such is the competitiveness of this competition that other results could keep them in touch.

At Barnstaple, the sides were locked at 3-3 at half-time before Barum went on to win 15-11. Josh Goldman scored the try with Josh Davey landing two penalties.

Against Newton Abbot, Morgan Rundle and Robbie Guthrie were the try scorers, with Josh Davey landing a conversion in the 15-12 defeat.

It was a game we should have won but on four occasions we were over the visitors try-line but just could not get the ball to ground.

Paul Harris