CREDITON II 20 - NORTH TAWTON 21

NEVER can the old saying pulled victory out of the jaws of defeat be more relevant than this match from a North Tawton viewpoint, in some ways, the Crediton team must still be wondering how they lost the match.

In truth the vast majority of play was in the North Tawton half if not the North Tawton red zone with attack after attack being thwarted most times by the solid dogged defence that we almost come to expect from a Tawts side these days.

Crediton sit top of the league, looking every inch candidates for promotion this season it was going to be a tough game for the side just a few miles down the road but they came with confidence born out of the last results and knowing that they had nilled the opposition at Taw Meadow the last time they had met.

Right from the first whistle, the home team showed their intent giving the Tawton defence little time to get their breath with some hard running slick passing it looked early doors like it was going to be a long afternoon for the visitors first try soon on the board missed kick which would prove to be telling at the end, 5-0 to Crediton.

This was followed up by another try this time with a conversion take us into half time, 12-0 to the home side.

It would be fair at this point for the travelling faithful to be concerned how Tawton were ever going to get into this game Crediton looking every inch the table toppers they are and we are still a long way from the end result but turn it around North Tawton did.

They start the second half with a try of their own, a rolling maul leading to a Stu Bennie try kick added by Jack Phare which pulls back the score to 12-7.

As if to reinsert their dominance of proceedings its not long before the hosts go over for their third try, another missed conversion giving us 17-7.

This was soon followed by a penalty for Crediton and a yellow card for North Tawton, the score now 20-7.

Down to 14 men, 13 points down it was going to be a big ask for the Tawts to even stay in the game, but wait, as if galvanised by the sending of their fly half, the Tawton side finally found a forward gear and the rare visits to the Crediton 22 were getting more and more often to the point.

A rolling maul from five metres out lead to a second try for North Tawton, this time by the ever dependable Si Quick and the boot of Jack Phare, its 20-14 somehow.

North Tawton are very much in this game. The home team are beginning to feel the pressure, they just cant shake the men from Tawton off.

We get down to the Crediton 10 metre line for what is becoming a more regular happening, another rolling maul that the referee had to keep a tight eye on.

The home team were finding it hard to bring down legally and with sure end result they didn't, and a penalty try awarded to North Tawton took Tawton into the lead for the first time 20-21.

The last five minutes for the away supporters, and maybe the players, seemed to be the longest ever.

Crediton threw everything and the kitchen sink at North Tawton, desperate to get any type of score to resume the lead. A penalty would do, but the Tawts held on to secure a well deserved victory and do the double over the league leaders.

In short a great advert for local grassroots rugby game played in good sprits and a credit to both teams.

Chris Phare