ST AUSTELL 19 - CREDITON 5
AS I was unable to attend this game it seemed appropriate to crib the match report from the St Austell website. In fairness, their perspective of the game seemed a very balanced one. Some clubs write reports with somewhat tunnel vision and seldom give credit to their opponents, however, this certainly appears to be an honest account.
That said, from the side that had played so superbly the previous week against Wadebridge, there were eight changes, brought about by either unavailability or injury.
In addition, full-back Oli Down was unwell before the game and so took a place on the bench with Gareth Mason moving to full-back and Sam Harris coming off the bench to start on the wing.
From here on I am grateful to St Austell providing the following report:
“While Saints tackled well they appeared to be a little off the pace that they had set in the more recent games.
“After a period of good pressure visiting winger Sam Harris finished off a period of good away pressure by skipping over to the left of the posts.
“To be fair it had been coming and was a well-deserved score, the first try the Saints had conceded in four games. Eight minutes (0-5) Harris (T).
“This seemed to be the spark the Saints needed and they began to put together some very dangerous phases of play with fly-half Ashwin threatening the line and the young Saints back three combining well to run the ball back.
“Despite Saints having most of the pressure the Crediton defence was outstanding and repelled wave after wave to turn around at half time still holding onto their slender lead.
“The half-time talk was composed and concentrated on really imposing our game in the second half and continuing to play at the tempo Saints wanted.
“With the Saints beginning to exert control in the forwards and Crediton being asked more and more questions all around the pitch, prop Hugh Noott finished off an impressive forward drive by claiming the try, well-converted by Freeman (51 minutes).
“The Saints were now in the ascendancy, replacement Kellow was making great yardage and the backs with Freeman and Johns always threatening were stretching the Crediton defence.
“Saints next try came from one of the regular scorers, George Knowles. From a dominant scrum he set off on a lateral slaloming run to dot down with several defenders hanging off him (65 minutes).
“Crediton rallied bravely and mounted a spirited response but pinpoint kicking from the Ashwin brothers kept the Devon side pinned in their own half.
“Following a Crediton infringement and a metre grabbing penalty kick to touch, the Saints forwards set up a dynamic catch and drive that saw Knowles break gleefully down the blind side for his second try of the day, converted by Freeman from wide out (78 minutes).
“The Saints pummelled away looking for the bonus point try but Crediton defended magnificently, even mounting one last assault of their own before the game was brought to a close.
“This was a fantastic game and great credit to both sides. They have both had stern tests recently so to commit to such a physically demanding display was fantastic to see.”
It has to be said from Crediton’s perspective, the players that came into the side proved just how much strength in depth we have created over the past few months.
Prop Rob Leach, centre Dan Lewis, winger Sam Harris and lock Josh Pearce have not had a great deal of First Fifteen rugby this season but they came in and plugged the gaps admirably and with back rower Rob Guthrie making a fine contribution off the bench on his First team debut there was much to be positive about from the game.
St Austell moved to top spot in the league after their eighth successive win but they were deprived of a bonus point and certainly had to work hard for their victory.
Looking forward we have five more league games in the run up to the Festive break starting with bottom placed Sidmouth this week.
We then have a trip to Paignton two weeks later before big spending St Ives come to Blagdon. Tiverton away and Truro at home complete the quintet of league games before Christmas.
All are very winnable and I am sure we would be disappointed not to pick up at least 15 points from those games.
TEIGNMOUTH SECONDS 20 - CREDITON ‘QUINS 46
The ‘Quins travelled to Teignmouth for a Devon Merit Table One fixture looking to bounce back from their trouncing at home against Cullompton a fortnight earlier.
It certainly did not take long to get on the scoreboard as immediately from the kick off Teignmouth were penalised for handling on the ground and centre Tom Ronchetti popped over a penalty.
However, Teignmouth responded straight away. Winning good line-out ball in the Crediton 22 metres area, their big forwards set up a good drive before their prop forward broke off the side to barge his way over for an unconverted try.
Unfazed by this quick response Crediton began to get into their stride and whilst the home side may have dominated the forwards, the ‘Quins certainly had the edge in the back and after 13 minutes Ronchetti was put into space out wide where he raced in for an unconverted try.
Winger Brad Baker was next on the scoreboard when he was on-hand to finish off a good set of phase plays by the Crediton forwards to go over for a try, Ronchetti adding the extras.
Five minutes later Crediton scored again following a good backs move but unfortunately the referee pulled play back for a forward pass and the try was disallowed.
On 26 minutes Hayden Hill chased down a kick to regain possession and passing back inside he found Tom Luxmore who was up in support to take the pass and go over for a try, Ronchetti adding the extras.
Hayden Hill himself was next on the scoreboard when he put pressure on the Teignmouth defence and scooped up a loose ball to race over for a try, Ronchetti again adding the extras.
Right on half-time Teignmouth were again penalised for handling on the ground and Ronchetti converted the penalty, making the half-time score 32-5 to Crediton in what had almost been a rout.
Teignmouth started the second half playing with a lot more structure and intent and their big pack were keeping the ball tight denying Crediton decent ball to play off.
On 50 minutes Teignmouth pulled a try back when their forwards set up a strong rolling maul close to the Crediton line and they drove over to score an unconverted try.
Five minutes later Teignmouth scored again. A loose ball was gathered up by a Teignmouth player and he broke through a disjointed Crediton defence to go over for an unconverted try.
Teignmouth were now playing with a lot more confidence keeping the ball among their big forwards and controlling the tempo of the game which suited them.
On 65 minutes Teignmouth scored their fourth try and once more it came from another driving maul from their forwards, the try going unconverted cutting our lead to 12 points with almost a quarter of the game left.
The ‘Quins were in need of some decent possession and the pack battled their way back into the game and began winning decent ball allowing the backs to up the tempo which suited our game and had been so profitable in the first half.
After several set plays by the backs Tom Ronchetti was again put into space where he outpaced the Teignmouth defence to go over for a try, Josh Davey adding the extras.
Crediton were finishing the stronger of the two teams and good awareness by scrum-half Tommy Jermyn put Dan Cooper into space who raced down the wing to go over for a try with Josh Davey adding the extras, making the final score 46-20 to Crediton.
This was a good workmanlike performance from the whole of the Crediton team and due to having only one replacement a lot of players put in massive shifts, especially among the forwards.
CREDITON THIRDS 50 - TOPSHAM SECONDS 0
The Third Fifteen put up a magnificent display of running rugby to completely overwhelm Topsham although after the opening minutes or so, this result never really looked likely.
Topsham with a big pack and a couple of lively backs took the game by the scruff of the neck and put us under pressure but the resilient defence kept them at bay and from there on in it was more or less one-way traffic with tries coming at regular intervals.
No 8 Ed Marshall was in fine form and at times proved unstoppable as his bursting runs made huge yardage during the game.
Skipper Sam Locke was also keen to run at the Topsham defence and gradually the visiting defence began to crumble.
The backs had plenty of ball to play with and the handling was beyond the level that might be associated with Third team rugby as they ran Topsham ragged.
Topsham did have their moments but such were the defensive qualities of the Crediton side, they were unable to find a way through.
Rowan Locke grabbed a hat-trick of tries, and there was one apiece for Ed Marshall, Sam Ronchetti, Sam Phillips, Dan Vanstone and Phil Anning who also added five conversions.
PLYMOUTH COLTS 48 - CREDITON COLTS 36
This result was a huge disappointment for the Colts and the players will doubtless be aware that they did not perform to their potential especially during the first half when they found themselves 0-36 down at the interval.
However, a very spirited recovery in the second half although not enough to gain a win, certainly earned them two bonus points which they had never looked like securing during the first 40 minutes.
Centre Josh Woodland scored a hat-trick of tries and there was one each for scrum-half Tyler Farley, prop Matt Goodman, Rob Lancaster with fly-half Conrad Saunders landing three conversions.
Games for tomorrow, Saturday, November 11:
First Fifteen at home v Sidmouth; Second Fifteen at home v Cullompton; Third Fifteen away v Honiton Seconds and Colts Fifteen away v Exeter Saracens Colts.
Paul Harris