TIVERTON 40-19 CREDITON RFC 1ST XV

FOR the second successive week we suffered defeat at the hands of Mid Devon rivals Tiverton RFC, this time at home in the semi-final of the Devon RFU Senior Shield, a competition we have won for the last two seasons.

The focus for the week had been to see a reaction from the players and get a complete attitude switch from the week before, when we didn’t give a very good account of ourselves at Tiverton. Players and coaches alike were determined to show each other and the supporters a performance with more heart.

We definitely saw that switch and while it may not have been reflected in the scoreline, there were some amazing performances, particularly from the young players who are coming through and finding their feet in senior rugby. This is the best Tiverton side we have played in quite a while and it’s probably fair to say that they have recently been through the same transitional phase that we find ourselves in.

The game itself saw the visitors open up a 10-nil lead, courtesy of a penalty and a penalty try in the opening 15 minutes. A Tom Luxmoore try, converted by Ollie Avery-Wright, got us into the game before another Tiverton try gave them a 7-15 lead with half an hour gone.

Luxmoore grabbed his second of the afternoon, Avery-Wright again converting and, but Tivvy responded before the break with an unconverted score to make it 14-20 at half-time.

As with the league game the week before, we were very much in it. After the restart, both sides traded scores, Luke Jones going over for us, and as we entered the final quarter it was 19-27.

Two more tries and a penalty from Tiverton took the game beyond us and when the referee blew for time, it was 19-40.

Congratulations to Tiverton and good luck to them in the final where they will take on Topsham.

For us, there are far more positives to work with than the week before, but still the same errors to try and fix. Ill-discipline is costing us massively and as soon as we can fix these errors, then results will be very different.

We’re not being outplayed or out-structured. We simply give up field position too easily, which allows teams to have confident attacks deep in our half. We’re working very hard to make sure this stops.

On Saturday, November 22, the 1st XV host Teignmouth in the league and the first leg of the Geoff Warne Memorial Trophy and the 2nd XV welcome Devonport Services.

The 3rd XV head to Torrington. This coming Friday night, November 21, the Colts take on Okehampton – details TBC.

Rob Avery-Wright and Jay Harris