Crediton 39 - North Petherton 29

GAMES against North Petherton have seldom been straightforward for Crediton RFC and whilst we have generally come out on top, they have never been an easy side to defeat.

Today (November 16) of course would prove no exception and for a while it looked very much as though we would be unlikely winners.

The visitors started strongly and had an opportunity to take an early lead with a penalty on four minutes but the effort was wide of the mark.

Another Pethy attack ended when they were penalised for holding on and we cleared to touch for a lineout just in their half.

The lineout was won and No 8 Ben Wonnacott made ground through the middle before offloading and a good handling move down the left touchline looked promising but was brought to a halt 8 metres short.

However, we retained possession and from the ruck sent the ball wide to the right where Wonnacott was on hand to go over in the corner, Ollie Avery-Wright landed a superb conversion from the touchline.

A failure to control possession from the restart allowed the visitors to set up an attack and when we were penalised for a high tackle, they kicked to the corner and the resulting lineout caught us out as the ball to the middle saw their No8 power through for a try, although the conversion was unsuccessful.

Pethy were playing with confidence although both sides looked to pose problems with ball in hand.

However, on 11 minutes we surrendered our lead when a visiting scrum 10 metres out secured possession and we fell off a couple of tackles and their lock forward went over for a converted try.

For a time, we dominated territory and possession but a tendency to “shoot ourselves in the foot” by giving away penalties when in promising positions proved our undoing.

With half time approaching, the visitors increased their lead with a penalty and things began to look ominous.

From the restart, flanker Ben Harris in his first start for the senior XV, won possession and from there we set up a strong attack which was held up short of the line, however, we had earned a five metre scrum.

The first drive was stopped illegally and we opted for another scrum which went the same way. At the third attempt, the scrum went down again and the referee awarded a penalty try, reducing the deficit to a single point at half time.

We secured possession from the restart and cleared upfield where the visiting winger misjudged the bounce and knocked on. From the resulting scrum it was Josh Woodland, who came off his wing and into the 10 channel, scored in his trademark style leaving three would-be tacklers spreadeagled on the ground before crashing over. OAW converted and we were ahead 21-15.

Within minutes, a knock on in midfield gave us the put in at the scrum, quick ball and a break from OAW took us into the visitors half.

The ball was moved to centre Kev Dennis whose perfectly timed pass put winger Josh Hall away and no one was going to catch him as he sprinted 40 metres for the try, the conversion drifted wide.

We then conceded a soft penalty and Pethy kicked to the corner, the resulting driving maul saw them over the line for a converted try and we were pegged back to a four point advantage.

A scrum on half way produced another penalty as the visitors were caught offside and the kick gave us a lineout eight metres out from which we attacked and Harris almost squeezed in for a try in the corner but was tackled just short, the ball going forward in the process.

Another visitors scrum five metres off their line and it was OAW who reacted quickly as the ball came out, he picked up and dived over for a try which went unconverted but we led 31-22.

From the restart an exchange of probing kicks took place before Josh Lee went forward before offloading to Josh Hall who was then tackled. However, we retained possession and spread the ball wide to Woodland who raced home from 40 metres leaving a trail of opponents in his wake and at 36-22 we looked to be home and dry.

That of course is to underestimate the opposition and they came right back at us forcing a series of penalties and from one we were caught as a quick tap penalty saw their scrum half over at the posts for a converted try to bring them to within a score at 36-29.

With 10 minutes remaining, North Petherton tried to battle their way to earning a draw but our defence held firm and in the final play of the game we were awarded a penalty which OAW slotted for a 39-29 win.

An entertaining game in which both sides showed a desire to open the game up and there was no shortage of skill.

We certainly had the edge when it came to creating opportunities and had the better of scrums and lineouts but the visitors always posed threats and it is fair to say we were never far enough ahead in the game to be comfortable.

We can now look forward to a trip to Tiverton in two weeks and whom we have not played in the league since 2019.

Paul Harris