Wadebridge 20 - Crediton 14

CREDITON Rugby Club First Team’s second and final trip to Cornwall for the season was a visit to Wadebridge on September 28, always difficult opponents on their own turf.

We have only won there twice in seven attempts, most recently in 2018.

However, it is a very different story at Blagdon where we have won six and drawn one.

The game started with the home side immediately on the offensive and camped themselves deep in our territory, playing a patient game and looking after the ball.

With five minutes on the clock, they took the lead with a penalty when we infringed at the breakdown.

For much of the remainder of the half, the game was dominated by defences as both sides tried to create opportunities.

We were having difficulty at scrum time as Wadebridge consistently wheeled the scrum on our put in and despite a word to the referee, he allowed it to continue.

The home side extended their lead right on half time when we cleared our lines but the ball was run back from half way breaking a couple of tackles before offloading to a supporting player who went in for the try which was converted.

We began the second period with a greater sense of urgency although the home side manage to deal with whatever we threw at them.

It was somewhat against the run of play that the lead was increased when a quick counterattack and some good handling ended with a try in the corner which was converted.

With the game entering the final quarter, we began to exert some pressure and put some phases together all of which was duly rewarded with our first points of the game.

A strong scrum had the home defence on the back foot forcing Wadebridge into conceding penalties. From a penalty close to the home line, the forwards took control and set up a driving maul taking play over the try line for flanker Matt Arnold to bag the try, Josh Davey converted and we felt were back in the game.

Once again though the game was fought out between the defences and it was Wadebridge who scored next with just a few minutes remaining, a penalty from the halfway line took them 13 points clear.

It needed a quick response if we were to gain at least a losing bonus point out of the game.

From the restart, we did gain possession deep in home territory and the patient build up, going through several phases and edging closer to the Wadebridge line was finally rewarded when we drove over the line and Arnold touched down for his second try of the game. Davey converted to secure that losing bonus point which we certainly deserved.

Wadebridge will certainly pose problems for many of the sides that visit them and whilst we were not really at our best and this was something of a setback, a single defeat is not the end of the world.

No doubt the players will bounce back and keep the pressure on the leaders.

Crediton Quins 52 - Newton Abbot II 10

ANOTHER dominant performance from the Quins in all areas of the game maintained the 100 per cent record and kept the pressure on the league leaders Sidmouth and Tiverton who also have 100 per cent records and have each played a game more.

To their credit, Newton never gave up and thoroughly deserved their two late tries but generally the Quins were simply too good.

The opening try came from skipper and second row forward Josh Atkinson who found himself on the wing and on the end of some good handling to race over for a try which fly half Tom Ronchetti converted.

Four minutes later with the forwards going through the phases the ball was worked out to centre Ethan Power who went over, the conversion missed its mark. Try number three soon followed with forwards and backs linking well to put winger Callum Yeandle in for a try in the corner.

Power was again on the scoresheet with the bonus point try when again some good handling put him away and, not for the first time he proved difficult to stop.

Scrum half James Dodge landed the extras. Shortly before the interval and having been reduced to 14 players after a yellow card for a high tackle, we added a fifth try, Power completing his hat-trick after pressure on the Newton line, Dodge converted to leave us 31-0 ahead at the interval.

Two minutes into the second half, Newton lost a lineout on our “22” and it was Dan Lee, playing his first game having missed all last season through injury, who raced threequarters the length of the pitch before offloading to flanker Will Crang who finished things off, again Dodge landed the extras.

Newton at last gained some reward for their endeavours, pressure on our line ended with the ball going out wide to the left and a score in the corner.

However, the Quins response was quick and again forwards and backs combined well for Henry Howard to finish off with a try out wide, Dodge landed another difficult conversion.

The game lost much of its momentum for much of the second half and some Newton pressure forced us to give away a few penalties. They were rewarded with a second try which went unconverted.

The scoring was completed when we were awarded a penalty 10 metres off the visitors line and a quick tap and go allowed Dan Lee to step through a couple of challenges and score, Dodge converted to complete the afternoon events.

It was a decent performance from the Quins, although a few basic errors crept into the game but sometimes when you are so dominant that can happen.

To their credit, Newton worked tirelessly but were generally on the back foot. We dominated the scrum and Josh Atkinson, Ben Harris and Dan Lee excelled in the lineout.

It was interesting that there were three sets of brothers playing, Dan and Josh Lee, Joe and James Dodge and Will and James Crang.

Crediton Colts 10 - Newton Abbot Colts 12

THE Colts turned in a vastly improved performance against a strong Newton Abbot side and indeed had the opportunity to win the game.

The attitude and endeavour shown by the players was a huge step forward for the group. Tom Ayre bagged a try and George Baxter landed a conversion and a penalty.

On Saturday, we have a break from league rugby for the Firsts and Quins who will be involved in Devon Cup matches.

The Firsts entertain Barnstaple in the Devon Senior Cup whilst the Quins travel to Sidmouth in the Second XV Cup.

Tough contests for both sides but both games are certainly winnable. The Third XV travel to Kingsteignton for a friendly against Newcross Second XV.

On Sunday, the Colts host Topsham in the Second Round of the National Cup.

Paul Harris