BARNSTAPLE 55-25 CREDITON RFC COLTS XV

HOPES were high that the Colts XV would cap a brilliant season by booking their place in the Devon RFU Colts Cup Final, but it wasn’t to be.

Barnstaple proved the stronger side on the day and will go on to meet Ivybridge in the season finale.

While the result stings, it does not define this group. The lads have been superb all year and should be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved. As a club, we certainly are.

Barnstaple came flying out of the blocks, racing into a 0-7 lead which soon became 0–10. We struggled to get a foothold, not helped by our generosity - a steady stream of penalties allowed Barum to pin us deep in our own half and made exits difficult.

A clever grubber through the defensive line gave us our first breakthrough, with Charlie Cookson pouncing in the corner to bring it back to 5–10. For a moment it looked like we might settle and build some momentum, but Barnstaple had other ideas. Two further tries stretched their advantage to 5–22 as half-time approached.

We needed a score before the break, and after some determined approach play, Josh Burnison powered over to make it 10–22 at the whistle.

With a full squad of 23, changes were made at half-time and fresh legs entered the contest. A strong start to the second period was needed, but again it was Barnstaple who struck first.

We hit back through Solomon Plowman, and at 15–29 with plenty of time left, the game was still alive. When we put phases together, we showed we could trouble our visitors.

But Barnstaple were clinical. As we continued to fall foul of the referee, more penalties gifting them territory and they stretched the lead with two further tries, moving out to 15–43.

Plowman crossed for his second, before Ben Pulfer added another to spark thoughts of a remarkable comeback among the home support – who were outstanding throughout. But Barnstaple had the final say, adding two more tries to seal a 25–55 victory.

On the day, Barnstaple were the better side and fully deserved their win. Our lads can hold their heads high.

The coaches can take real pride in knowing they have done right by the whole squad all season long, developing a group that plays for each other, represents the club brilliantly, and has given us all plenty to cheer.

A tough end, but a superb campaign.

Coming up on Wednesday, March 25: 3rd XV v Exeter Engineers (H) 7.15pm. Coming up on Saturday, March 28: 1st XV v Cullompton (H), 2nd XV v Tavistock (A), Colts XV v Ivybridge (A).