CREDITON 17 - BRIDGWATER 19

CREDITON RFC’s First Fifteen have edged a few close games at home this season but on this occasion (Saturday, January 11) it wasn’t to be as Bridgwater slotted a late penalty to seal victory.

Despite outscoring the visitors by two tries to a penalty try they just about deserved the win and we can take solace in the fact that our losing bonus point takes us a point clearer from the drop zone.

The game was barely a minute old when Bridgwater took the lead with a simple penalty as we were caught offside and visiting centre Jay Owen got the scoreboard moving.

After this early setback, we secured possession and had a good period of pressure which earned a penalty.

A simple three points to tie things up looked on the cards but we opted for the corner. Unfortunately, the lineout was lost and with it the chance to get our side of the scoreboard moving.

We continued to apply attack and eventually got our reward. After several phases battering the Bridgwater try-line, skipper Henry Gavin burrowed his way over. Fly-half Rob Avery-Wright landed the conversion for a 7-3 lead.

Both sides battled for domination and on 30 minutes it was Owen who cut the deficit to a single point with a second penalty.

The momentum was swinging the way of Bridgwater and they were beginning to look dangerous.

Defensively we were pretty sound but just before the interval they spread the ball wide and with an overlap looked certain to score.

Winger Josh Woodland miss-timed his tackle, taking out the player before he received the ball and the referee decided it was a penalty try for the visitors and a yellow card for Woodland.

When the half time whistle blew, we were trailing 7-13.

The second half saw both sides being forced to defend and on 55 minutes, we got the reward for another period of pressure on the Bridgwater line, this time it was replacement flanker Chris Hooper who forced his way over, Avery-Wright converted and we were ahead by a point.

The lead was short-lived as we infringed immediately from the kick-off and Owen banged over his third penalty of the day.

Bridgwater did exactly the same and Avery-Wright responded with one of his own. It was a real ding dong affair and we were 17-16 up.

We should really have sealed the win with another period of pressure on the Bridgwater line but after several phases, we conceded a penalty and the chance was gone.

Bridgwater got on the attack and the final 10 minutes was a tense affair. Our defence continued to hold firm until the game entered the final moments when we conceded another penalty which Owens converted to win the game.

A disappointing result and while the effort of the lads can’t be faulted, our execution has room for improvement!

Onwards and upwards to joint leaders Chew Valley tomorrow, Saturday, January 18.

Paul Harris