Clinical 8-try victory for Crediton over Winscombe

Crediton 57 - Winscombe 12

THE eight try victory could give the impression that this was a simple walk in the park for Crediton RFC First Team, but to be fair to Winscombe, it was definitely not that.

Certainly we were very clinical and scored some excellent tries but the visitors too looked threatening at times with some pace in their backs and a clear edge in the scrum.

However, our defence was in great form and thwarted almost every attack from their strong running backs.

We opened the scoring after just four minutes when from a lineout on the Winscombe “22”, the long throw was cleanly taken and in the hands of scrum half Ed Brady in no time and he caught the visitors defence wrong footed by darting through a gap and avoiding a couple of tackles to score, Ollie Avery-Wright converted.

A second try followed on 13 minutes when from a five-metre scrum, Brady shipped the ball to fullback Freddie Blackburn who went over. OAW again converting.

Winscombe rallied and camped in our “22” and on 20 minutes reduced the arrears.

A penalty for hands in the ruck gave them a chance to kick to the corner and from the resulting lineout and driving maul they forced their way over for a try which went unconverted.

A bit of ill-discipline from the visitors gave us a somewhat unnecessary penalty and centre Josh Goldman took a quick “tap and go” and went over from five metres out. OAW converted.

Back came Winscombe and a threatening attack was brought to a halt on our “22” as OAW intercepted and raced away before putting winger Josh Hall away on half way to score at the posts. OAW again added the extras and the bonus point was earned.

With the interval approaching, a break by centre Kev Dennis almost put winger Josh Woodland in but he was tackled into touch. A penalty for a high tackle was duly landed by OAW and we reached the break with a 31-5 lead.

The opening 10 minutes of the second period was all about Winscombe attacking and going through the phases without getting through our defensive wall.

To rub salt into their wound, our first foray into the visitors “22” brought a somewhat untidy but nonetheless welcome try.

Playing an advantage for a knock on in our favour the ball somehow found its way out to Josh Woodland who forced his way over in the corner. OAW converted.

Within minutes, Brady picked up at the base of a ruck and went through a gap to race 40 metres for his second try of the game. OAW maintained his 100 per cent record from the tee.

This was followed soon after with another try following a superb break by Dennis who was tackled just short of the line but popped the ball up to Jake Clarke who finished off in style with a try on his 200th First XV appearance, OAW landed the extras once again.

Winscombe battled away and at times put some good handling moves together but were still unable to find a way past the resolute defence.

A loose ball from a ruck on halfway was kicked ahead by Josh Atkinson and his chase put sufficient pressure on the visitors defence and we turned over possession to put Woodland away for his second try of the game. Surprisingly, the conversion drifted to the left of the post by mere inches.

Winscombe then took the game to our “22” and looked certain to score in the corner but the final pass was wayward and the chance disappeared.

However, they continued to press and we were forced to clear to touch a couple of times although we did steal a lineout and decided to run from our “22”, it almost worked but the final pass to Hall was forward.

With the final play of the game, Winscombe got a second score with a break down the middle and it was a score that they deserved.

Clearly, we were very worthy winners with some superb tries scored.

Winscombe had plenty of possession and spent time in our half but we defended so well. In fairness the scoreline does not do the visitors efforts justice but sometimes, that’s the way things go.

Paul Harris