CREDITON 19 - SALTASH 8

IRRESPECTIVE of league positions, games against Saltash have always been closely fought and usually high scoring encounters.

Over the years there has been an average of more than 50 points per game and in many instances nothing more than a score separating the sides.

Whilst this game may not have been such a free scoring affair it was certainly a close run thing and did not lack for entertainment and a certain amount of nerve jangling.

Saltash certainly did not play like a side in the bottom three and their backs looked sharp with ball in hand although fortunately our defence was up to the challenge.

The early signs did not look promising for us as we struggled to get hands on the ball and when we did, our exit kicks were somewhat wayward and the visitors would run back at us.

They opened the scoring with a well-worked try down the left following a poor clearance and it would be hard to deny they deserved it.

It should have been a bit of a wake up call and for a few minutes it did seem to have the desired effect but errors crept into our game and some attacking opportunities were wasted.

We were dominant in the scrum and the driving maul was functioning pretty well and it was felt that we should have had a penalty try when a maul was collapsed a metre short of the line.

However, we did manage to take the lead when the ball was won at a scrum 15 metres out and fly-half Jason Luff jinked his way over, full-back Oli Down converted.

Frustration and ill discipline became issues for us and with that came more mistakes. A Saltash kick took us back almost to our try-line and a defensive mix up ended with a penalty to the visitors which was landed to put them back in the lead at the interval.

The second half followed a similar pattern although we had more possession and territory, handling errors were holding us back and the harder we tried the worse things got.

Saltash were looking relatively comfortable as they contained our attacks and the game reached something of a stalemate.

Things finally came to life 15 minutes from time after a period of sustained pressure when after several phases, lock Mark Nott powered his way over although the relatively simple conversion was missed.

Within five minutes the result was put beyond doubt when Luff again jinked his way through the Ashes defence in a way that would have earned high marks on “Strictly Come Dancing” before touching down under the posts, Down converted for a 19-8 lead.

The thought that we might be chasing a bonus point try had seemed inconceivable five minutes earlier and indeed, time ran out and we settled for a victory which we probably just about deserved on the balance of play.

However, Saltash equally deserved something from the game and to return to Cornwall without a losing bonus point was particularly harsh on them.

The victory meant that we have gone nine games undefeated, our best ever start since the leagues were formed 30 years ago.

We are hard on the heels of Sidmouth who are three points ahead of us and who we visit on November 17 for our next league game which should prove to be a tremendous game. We have every reason to believe that we can win, having earned a draw there last season.

The surprise result from last week was bottom of the table Bideford recording their first win of the season against third placed St Austell whom we welcome to Crediton on November 24.

The run in up to Christmas brings encounters against sides in the top half of the table, aside from those two games in November, we visit our near neighbours Tiverton on December 1 followed by a home game against Truro on December 8 and a trip to Wellington on December 15, all tough games which will take us to the half-way stage of the season.

QUINS

The ‘Quins had no game on Saturday as Teignmouth were unable to raise a front row and the game has been rescheduled for later in the season.

HORNETS

The Third Fifteen travelled to Honiton for a Merit Table game and ran out winners by a single point 22-21 and but for a juggling act by an unnamed Crediton player when over the try-line, could well have been a bigger margin.

Back rower Chris Hooper bagged a hat-trick for the second successive week and there was also a try for centre Scott Mills. Full-back Hayden Hill landed a conversion.

COLTS

The Colts suffered their first reverse of the season losing 17-38 at Okehampton.

Paul Harris