South Molton Second XV 26 - Crediton Thirds 31

IT was a wet and windy day for the Third team as they travelled to South Molton, but then, it usually is even without storm Bert, to play the hosts Second XV.

With their club pitches unplayable the school ground was used and which is rather exposed to say the least.

As expected the ball resembled a bar of soap so it was a day for up your jumper rugby!

Molton having struggled to raise a full side recently had several familiar first team faces brought in to make up the numbers and it certainly showed.

We were forced into mistakes and Molton took full advantage running in two tries. However, when they were camped on our five metre we defended magnificently and held them up over the line a number of times.

The defensive set seemed to give us a bit of confidence and we got ourselves back into the game.

Joe Warren scored first for us with a fine individual effort slicing through a number of defenders to score under the posts with Owen Cooper battling the winds to slot the conversion.

Tom O’Donnell was next to score with a storming run from 10 metres out receiving a high tackle in the process and which did not stop him powering over, again with Cooper adding the extras, with the game all square, we were awarded a penalty which Cooper stepped up to put us ahead!

Molton came back at us scoring twice more although only one was converted.

Ben Rodd and Richard Gray leading from the front with hard running and after sucking in the defence Joe Warren found himself a gap to go through and score his second which he converted and with four minutes to go we were 26-24 down.

With our position at the top of the league under threat we needed another score.

With true Third team spirit we battled our way up the field phase after phase with short pick and goes close to the breakdown to camp on their five metre line.

Finally it was Ben Baxter who forced his way over to score the bonus point try to win the game, Cooper converted.

South Molton have had difficulties in getting a Second XV out so credit is due to them for managing to get a full squad out.

We battled hard for our win and thoroughly deserved the maximum points which has cemented our position at the top of the Devon Merit Table with an eight point gap to second placed Ilfracombe.

Jon Gurzynski