Crediton Quins 52 - Sidmouth 19

THE first day of spring brought some fine weather and the concerns about the state of the pitch after days of heavy rain earlier in the week became a distant memory.

Once again the groundstaff came up trumps (apologies for using that word). The importance of the outcome could not be overstated, a victory would bring promotion within touching distance, defeat and it might slip through our fingers.

The Quins began the game in fine style and had the scoreboard moving before the operators had had a chance to settle in the seats.

From the kick off, we turned over possession and set up an attack, Sidmouth regained possession but a resulting scrum to them saw the visiting pack driven off their own ball and it was Josh Lee who picked up and raced over, Tom Ronchetti landed the extras and we were up and running.

The lead was doubled at seven minutes when from a lineout, the ball was taken down the blind side and scrum half James Dodge darted in, Ronchetti converted for 14-0.

Sidmouth were really struggling in the scrum as each one saw them driven backwards by an impressive Quins pack.

It was no surprise when a knock-on five metres out led to a pushover try for Chris Hooper, Ronchetti making it 21-0 from the tee.

Sidmouth rallied and managed to have some time in our half but again it was the strength of the forwards that turned over possession and set up another attack.

As we moved the ball wide inside the visitors’ 22, the Sidmouth winger intercepted and raced clear to score under the posts from almost the length of the pitch to remind us that they were still in the game. He also landed the conversion for 21-7.

With half time approaching, prop Harvey Murfitt made good ground to the visitors‘ 22 and James Dodge with a sniping run caught their defence napping and raced in, the conversion drifted wide and at half time we had the bonus point and a lead of 26-7.

Sidmouth began the second half looking more like the side that were in contention for promotion only a couple of weeks ago and from a ruck on the half way line moved the ball out wide and they cleared a couple of tackles before an offload to their centre whose diagonal run saw him score from 30 metres, the conversion was successful and they were certainly back in the game.

However, their joy was short lived and an interception by Tom Hunt and a quick pass to Sam Ronchetti took play to within five metres, the ensuing ruck was duly won and the ball worked out left where lock Sam Rowe was waiting and he made no mistake from a couple of yards. Ronchetti converted.

The Quins kept up the pressure but Sidmouth put up a solid defence and had a couple of attacks of their own but generally defences were on top.

However, it was a break by flanker Will Crang who broke a couple of tackles before being brought down, quick ball from the ruck to prop Joe Rees whose neat inside pass found Josh Lee who made more ground before putting Sam Kibbey in for a try, Ronchetti added the extras for a 40-14 lead.

Sidmouth bounced back and after some neat interplay the right winger squeezed over in the corner but he couldn’t quite make the conversion. With the game entering its closing minutes, another quick and flowing move ended with Hooper racing (yes racing!) in from the 22, the conversion failed.

The final score went to Bobby Mogford who had only been on the pitch for a few seconds and found himself in the right place at the right time to receive a pass a couple of yards out and sprint over.

Determined to make full use of his time on the pitch, he also converted, drop-goal style, to complete a 52-19 victory.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Sidmouth were in the hunt for the promotion spot, but successive defeats have ruled out their chances.

Indeed, we are certainly in pole position needing only four points from our remaining three games to become champions and earn a well-deserved promotion, a victory of any sort against Tiverton on Saturday will be enough.

Paul Harris