SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

Hayle 3

FOLLOWING the result against Wellington the previous week there was further disappointment with this result at mid table Hayle.

Neither side created much in the way of scoring chances and the difference between the sides was a 55th penalty for the home side.

Fortunately other results went our way and our position in the league remained unaltered.

Tiverton Seconds 7

Crediton 'Quins 26

The 'Quins gained a deserved win at Tiverton to consolidate a mid table position in the Devon Merit One, whilst the Hornets managed a seven all draw against Tiverton Thirds.

The Colts at last got a full game under their belt as the defeated Tiverton Colts 23-3.

Saturday, January 30

Crediton 19

It was something of a relief to get back to winning form against a resurgent Liskeard side on a run of seven straight wins.

Their recent success has seen them rise up the table to join the battle for the runners-up spot. We were aware from the previous encounter that they would be one of the harder teams to beat, they have a solid pack which thrives on the catch and drive tactic from lineouts.

It was how they scored at their ground and it was a ploy they used to good effect in that game. They also possess a couple of lively backs who would certainly test our defensive capabilities.

Home nerves were settled almost from the kick-off as debutant lock forward Dominic Grellier surprised everyone with his pace and almost stole the ball from under the Liskeard noses.

We dominated proceedings and opened the scoring on six minutes and barely a Liskeard hand had touched the ball in that time.

The try came from a line-out which it seemed we had lost but we did manage to turnover possession and get the ball out quick and wide to give ageless winger Dan Howard the opportunity to dash over in the corner.

The try seemed to bring with it an aire of confidence and within seven minutes another try was conjured up out of nothing.

Another lineout and ruck from which the ball was moved quickly to centre Mike Pearce whose timely inside pass found co centre Matt Walton.

With seemingly plenty of defensive cover Waltons' task looked impossible but he somehow carved his way through to score at the posts to give fly half Rob Milton the simplest of conversions.

Liskeard battled their way back into the game and we began to have difficulty in getting hands on the ball.

The defence however, was up quickly to meet the challenge as they pressured our line. A few catch and drives were repelled and the visitors were forced to resort to kick through or over our back line, each time posing posing problems.

The second half began much as the first as we put several phases together and eventually we were rewarded with a try off a driving maul which, after much debate was given to scrum half Dave Rich, Milton landed an excellent conversion.

Liskeard rallied and the half then followed a similar pattern to the first 40 minutes as they kept possession.

They did gain a few penalties and kicked for the corner to continue with their catch and drive ploy.

It worked on the hour mark and they were rewarded with a try. With their tails up they kept the pressure on but our defence was rock solid and things became fractious albeit only briefly.

They did huff and puff but were unable to add to their score.

All in all a much better performance, the defence was excellent and certainly Liskeard are one of the better sides in the league.

It is perhaps a pity that we were unable to reproduce the rugby of the first quarter during the remainder of the game.

Young props Lance Palmer and Paul Thomas certainly gave as good as they got from a couple of vastly experienced front row opponents and University student Dominic Grellier turned in an impressive display in the second row.

'Quins

The 'Quins were narrowly beaten 17-18 at Paignton despite leading 12-3 at the interval whilst the Colts turned in a below par performance in losing surprisingly, to a vastly improving Honiton Colts.

Forthcoming fixtures

February 13: First Fifteen at home to OPM; 'Quins and Hornets at home against Sidmouth Seconds and Thirds; Colts away at Sidmouth.

February 20: First Fifteen at home against Plymstock; 'Quins at home againstBarnstaple; Hornets away atBarnstaple; Colts at home againstBarnstaple.

PH

Crediton Youth Rugby

Under 13's

Crediton 34

Sidmouth 10

CREDITON were kindly allowed, by the school, to use the QE Lower School pitch to host Sidmouth in the quarter final of the Devon Cup.

This pitch was far drier than those at the Rec and far better suited to the teams open attacking rugby.

Sidmouth have improved greatly as a team in the past 12 months and they proved to be very tough opposition for Crediton in this quarter final tie.

Both teams played excellent rugby in front of a large crowd of spectators and the game was well refereed by Matthew Palmer from Barnstaple.

The Sidmouth team dominated the early stages and it was only some fine last ditch defending that stopped them from scoring.

They were so much on top that the home team did not even get into their half until the midway point of the half.

The spark for Crediton was a fantastic 50 metre run from, wing Kieran Vinnincombe, from his own 22 metre line.

This seemed to give the whole Crediton team confidence and a few minutes later the ball was again spun out wide for the same player to race, in unopposed, from 30 metres.

Crediton's confidence continued to grow and with the forwards now starting to win more than their fair share of ball in loose play, the backs once again ran at the Sidmouth defence.

Centre Matt Rendell was at the heart of the move initially drawing in two defenders before offloading. His quick thinking saw him loop around and be on hand to take the scoring pass for an excellent score.

Shortly after, Ollie Avery-Wright added one of his trademark drop goals to make the score 15-0 to Crediton at half time.

Sidmouth started the second half as they had the first, with very powerful running and driving play from their large pack of forwards.

This resulted in two fine tries in the corner in the opening 10 minutes of the half. Crediton then showed tremendous determination to get the momentum back, with driving forward play seeing Alex Rodd crashing over from 10 yards.

With time now running out and the opponents tiring the Crediton team played some fantastic open running rugby.

A fine try from Jamie Mckenzie was then capped by a memorable finale. For two minute Crediton kept possession seeking a way through their opponents defence.

The ball was kept alive with forwards and backs involved in the move and it was passed through a number of players hands before finally a gap opened in the top corner for full-back Jack Zilch to sprint through and score under the posts for a memorable team try.

Ollie Avery-Wright added the extra's with the conversion in front of the posts and the referee then blew his whistle for full-time.

This was an excellent game of rugby and all 22 of the Crediton players can be very proud of their contribution to a fine win against a very good Sidmouth side. MG

Under 15's

Crediton 0

Wellington 17

HAVING played very little rugby in December and to date in the New Year, this was a fixture the boys were really looking forward to!

It was especially important for them as we played Wellington in the first match of the season and did not do ourselves justice - Wellington actually put 40 plus points on the board!

A lovely day for rugby and the pitch had dried out nicely.

There were a number of changes to the side and the coaches were trying a few experiments, with Ben Cullen starting at No 10 and new boy, Julian Dupree, switching from his usual position of full back to blind side flanker!

Kirton won the toss and elected to play down the slope in the first half.

It was a very evenly contested first 15 minutes until the visitors ran in a try from just outside the 22 metres.

This was the way the score remained until half time.

The second half continued in much the same fashion with both sides continuing to pressurise the opposition line.

The Kirton backs, led by Ben Cullen, in his new role at No 10, had a great game and implemented some of the moves practised in training.

However, it was Wellington that eventually broke the home side's line mid way through the second half to score an unconverted try.

Kirton then tried to breach the opposition line and on two occasions nearly did so but the ball was knocked on! A last minute try against the run of play saw the final score of the game.

A good all round effort with great work from the newly constructed back line!

The forwards were a little rusty after the long lay-off and could have been a little more eager for possession.

At the end of the day a good all round performance and that will hopefully bode well for the second half of the season!

Julian Dupree, a new welcome recruit (well, not so new as he played with the team at Under 12's!) was deservedly voted Man of the Match.

DD

Under 16's

Newton Abbott 3

Crediton 7

THIS was a battle on a boggy pitch, which Crediton edged.

Their only score came following a crunching tackle by Rob Somerwill, dispossessing his opponent and kicking through to the line for Josh Lee to dive on for the try.

Lee converted for a 7-0 lead.

The All Whites pulled back three points with a penalty, for hands in the ruck, but Credy held out.

There were strong performances from Credy props Callum Allen and Alex Read.

RS

Under 16's

Stuart Stocking Cup

(November 1 2009)

Okehampton 10

Crediton 26

(January 17 2010)

Crediton 5

Okehampton 1

CREDITON Under 16's played in the Stuart Stocking Memorial Cup against Okehampton.

Stuart died suddenly and unexpectedly in October 2009 aged just 30 years.

He was a pupil of Okehampton College between 1990 and 1996, before attending Essex University to study Software Engineering.

During his time at Okehampton he was a regular player for Okehampton Junior RFC under the coaching of Barry Gee.

He was the U 15's "Player of the Year" in 1994/95

He also represented Okehampton Otters Swimming Club.

The memorial cup is to be an annual event, played over two legs between the U16's of Crediton and Okehampton RFC's.