CREDITON Rugby Club is in its 144th year of existence and so it is hardly surprising that some remarkable records have been achieved over the years.

Of course, records are generally made by players and their performances on the pitch and are not restricted simply to achievements at First XV level.

In all that time and with many thousands of players who have passed through the Club in that time, only three have played more that 500 First XV games.

At the top of that list is Viv Steer who, in a career that spanned 22 seasons amassed a total of 560 games in the First XV, the bulk of those appearances came between 1977 and 1993 but overall, an average of 25 games per season in the First XV is a remarkable achievement.

Viv was one of the most widely respected props in the County and there is no doubt that he could have played at a higher level, indeed his loyalty to Crediton probably cost him recognition and selection for the County.

In total, Viv played 651 games for the Club and scored 12 tries, he was also something of a kicker with 15 conversions and 20 penalties.

Second on the list, Andy Cole, managed 529 games in the First XV and would certainly not consider himself to be a kicker although his touch kicks on occasion have proved both valuable and entertaining.

Andy’s career started at a very young age in 1964 and progressed into the First XV in 1967. Injury cost him an entire season in 1969-70 but despite that he subsequently spent most of the next 16 seasons as a regular Second row in the First XV before moving to Exeter in 1986.

He scored 29 tries in total, and was even scoring them when they were only worth three points!

Completing the membership of the 500 Club is Mike John with 525 appearances in a career that began in the Colts in 1963 and ended with retirement in 1984.

“Bonzo” plied his trade as a hooker and once he had made his debut in the First XV in 1968, he was seldom out of it until he retired.

Hookers are never averse to scoring tries with 68 in total and is another who was scoring when the try was worth a mere three points!

Although also not renowned as a kicker, Mike did boost his points scoring when he did convert a penalty in the 1971-72 season, not sure who it was against but it is certainly on record. After retirement, Mike went on to be a successful coach in the Juniors and Colts.

That is a very select list and noticeably all three have spent their careers in the front five forwards, Viv and Bonzo in an area of the game where, unless you actually play there, no one knows quite what goes on, often know as the Dark Arts and the secrets are kept very much to themselves.

Andy would be packing down immediately behind them in what is commonly known as “The Engine Room” and no doubt make major contributions to the Dark Arts.

Naturally, it also begs the question why there are no three-quarters in that list, could it be that forwards have found the elixir of youth that keeps them going for so long? Who knows? However, it is highly unlikely that this trio will be added to as there are only two current players within 300 games of achieving that milestone.

Shane Bayley and Walter Andrews (both forwards) are tied on 467 First XV games, Peter Setter (who played anywhere) 426 and Ian Gillard (at last a back) is on 416, are the only ones between 400 and 500 First Team appearances.

As was stated earlier, perhaps we should not only concentrate on First team appearances but take a more holistic approach and include the contributions made by many other players who have played more than 500 games in total for the Club in which case the list would expand considerably. So, like any good serial, I shall leave you on the edge of your seats and reveal all next week.

This week’s featured player is Mark Lee who seems to have crammed so much into a short space of time.

Mark is one of three brothers all of whom are quality players, all played for Crediton through the Juniors.

Josh is still playing at Crediton whilst Dan has played at Cornish Pirates and Taunton. No doubt the big influence on their rugby careers has been their “old man” Chris (Farmer) Lee who also played for and coached at the Club.

Mark was still a Colt when he made his First XV debut away at Tavistock on February 16, 2008, and scored a try and three conversions in a 26-44 defeat, nonetheless it was a confident start in senior rugby.

Mark signed for Plymouth Albion when he was 18 and had a brief period on loan to National Two side Lydney. Mark then moved to Barnstaple for a few seasons before returning to Crediton in 2012.

Still only 22, Mark had gained valuable experience at a higher level and has proved to be a huge asset for the Club ever since.

Mark recalled not one particular match but almost an entire season as his most rewarding, it was a season that has been covered in part previously in the “Courier” but there is no harm in reminding ourselves just how good it was!

The 2014-15 season was indeed a memorable one especially as we had been stuck in the Cornwall and Devon League for eight years and seemingly destined never to finish higher than fourth!

However, this season was going to be different and would begin with a trip to Saltash against whom we have always enjoyed some really good games over the years, always competitive and generally high scoring affairs with little to choose between either side, indeed the average points per game against The Ashes was 54.

We returned across the Tamar with a 27-24 win against a side which we thought would be one of our closest rivals for promotion. The next two games produced a total of 92 points against five with victories against South Molton (43-5) and Bude (49-0) before our first (and what proved to be only) reverse in the league, a 10-11 defeat at Withycombe.

That result dropped us to fourth place behind Withycombe, Saltash and Pirates Amateurs, although we did have a game in-hand.

Further victories continued to come, Exeter Saracens (58-28), Falmouth (22-3) although we missed out on a bonus point, Hayle away (37-13) and Honiton (41-15) and we reached the halfway stage of the season with no further mishaps, not even a further point dropped although we still remained in third place on points difference behind Saltash and Withycombe. It had become reasonably clear that barring any mishap, the two promotion places would be fought out between the three of us as we were some considerable distance ahead of fourth place.

The New Year continued in the same vein with another bonus point win at home against Bodmin whilst at the same time, Bude had seen off Withycombe and we moved up to second but the next game would be a trip to Bude followed by a home game against Withies, two weeks that would have a great bearing on the outcome in April.

Both Bude and Withycombe were despatched with narrow wins although we failed to get the necessary bonus points which in effect was two points dropped. With 18 games gone we were now six points adrift of Saltash with a game in-hand.

In all this time, since we beat them in the opening game, they had gone on to win the next 18 games.

Withycombe were not out of it completely and were just two points behind us having played a game more. Seven more victories and only one bonus point dropped took us to the final game, at home against Saltash! Promotion for both of us was confirmed, the only issue to resolve would be who would go up as Champions? Saltash on 118 points and ourselves on 117, it could not have turned out better had it been scripted.

A beautiful sunny April day, and a big crowd, this had all the makings of a Cup Final. The game itself was as hard fought as it always is with Saltash, played in a great spirit and of the highest calibre.

Both sides looking to run the ball at every opportunity but defences held firm. In the end it came down to whichever side took their chances and fortunately that was us as we ended up as 23-12 victors.

The celebrations went on for some considerable time and we were now able to plan for life in Western Counties West and a couple of entertaining encounters with Saltash again.

So far as individuals is concerned, Mark viewed his best opponent as being Gaz Evans, player coach at Okehampton and a former Plymouth Albion player. Mark made the point that “Gaz could win games single handedly and often did”.

When it came to Crediton players that he has played with, he named Ollie Avery-Wright closely followed by Leigh Kinch. In fact, Mark went on to name his favoured team based on quality as players and the ability to enjoy themselves:

15; Ollie Down, 14; Matty Dayment, 13; Leigh Kinch, 12; Chris Simpson, 11; Devon Hosegood, 10; Ollie Avery-Wright, 9; Ed Brady, 8; Mark Nott, 7; Jake Clarke, 6; Ben Wonnacott, 5; Cam Huxtable, 4; Josh Lee, 3 Dan Manns, 2; Bobby Mogford, 1; Lance Palmer. Not a bad side whichever way you look at it and of course has not included himself so I guess he would at least make the bench.

For the record, Mark has played 164 games for the Club, 150 in the First XV and amassed a total of 942 points from 58 tries, 176 conversions, 97 penalties and three drop goals.

Of course there is one additional record that the entire Lee family can be proud of and that came on April 27, 2014 when all three brothers were selected to play for Devon in the Tamar Cup fixture against Cornwall.

There have been quite a few occasions when two brothers have represented the County, but this is the only record of three brothers in the same County side.

Paul Harris