Crediton Thirds 33 - South Molton Seconds 12

THE scheduled Cup games for the Firsts against Exmouth and the Quins against Ivybridge Seconds on February 8 were called off as neither of our opponents were able to raise a team.

Disappointing as it was, it meant that the Thirds could take centre stage and provide some excellent rugby to entertain the 90 or so sponsors that turned up. South Molton Seconds were also struggling to get a side together and turned up with 10 players but we loaned them enough players to have a proper 15-a-side game.

The South Molton boys should be thanked for making the effort when many Clubs would have pulled out of the game and of course thanks also to the Crediton lads, including skipper Jon Gurzynski, who willingly volunteered to play for the visitors, the true spirit of rugby was upheld.

It was South Molton who made the early running and they grabbed an early lead when they exploited a gap in our defence to score at the posts, the simple conversion took them to a 7-0 lead after just a few minutes.

The Thirds responded and an attack inside the visitors “22” went through several phases before unleashing the flying Bradley Baker whose angled run caught the Molton defence flat footed to score out wide. An excellent kick from fly half Tom Cooper levelled the score.

We began to exert a bit of control on the game and another period of sustained pressure saw Euan Philip grab the try that put us in the lead and again, Cooper hit a superb conversion from the touchline.

A loose ball in the middle of the pitch was picked by us and the ball fed wide to winger Tariq Sayers, his trademark strong run in from 30 metres plus another excellent Cooper conversion and we were well on top and looking for a bonus point try.

It came shortly before the interval with a tremendous bit of opportunism from Euan Philip.

A Crediton clearance was bouncing its way into the “in goal area” and looked to be shielded into touch by the visiting fullback.

However, Philip had given chase and whilst it looked a lost cause, he surprised the Molton defender and got a hand to touch down just in time for an interval lead of 26-7.

South Molton took the initiative in the early part of the second half and we struggled to get hands on the ball, they reduced the arrears with another well taken try which went unconverted.

The game was evenly contested for much of the remainder of the half although No8 Chris Hooper did manage to pick up from the base of a scrum and force his way over, Cooper converted for a 33-12 victory.

With the games ticking away, every win for the Thirds makes it more difficult for the remaining sides to catch us.

Barnstaple are 16 points behind with two games in hand and of course we still have to travel there.

Ilfracombe are a further six points behind with one game in hand and we also have to travel there.

It is not plain sailing. Nothing can be taken for granted and the outcome is very much in our hands.

Paul Harris