Cullompton 33 - Crediton 39

THE brilliant September sunshine brought out some of the best and yet some of the worst of performances in almost equal measure when Crediton RFC First Team played Cullompton on September 14.

At our best, we produced some sparkling, creative rugby that produced tries of real quality.

At our worst, we struggled in defence and at times were at “sixes and sevens” which allowed Cullompton to stay in touch.

Fortunately, the best outweighed the worst, and we squeaked home by six points although the win should have been more comfortable than that. 

We were caught napping in the opening two minutes when the home side took play to our “22” from the kick off and caught us out wide with a try in the corner.

The conversion found its mark and we were seven points adrift before anyone had taken their seats in the stand. Within minutes though we had reduced the arrears to two points after some slick handling ended with winger Sam Westcott going over in the corner.

Skipper Ollie Avery-Wright was declared unfit 24 hours earlier and the resulting reshuffle saw Sam come in on the wing.

That score helped us to up the tempo and with a dominant scrum, we had plenty of ball for the backs to show what they could do.

A break by full-back Josh Hall put winger Josh Woodland away and he brushed away several tackles before being hauled down short of the line.

However, the resulting ruck was cleared out quickly and hooker Dan Yendell went over for a 10-7 lead.

It was really good to see Woodland approaching the form of a couple of years ago.

Within minutes, another superb handling move created more havoc in the home defence and once again Hall joined the line and went over, Josh Davey converted for a 17-7 lead. 

Cullompton were clearly not going to sit back and let us run at them and they responded with a converted try to bring it back to a three-point game.

However, they did gain some confidence as they exposed some defensive frailties with holes appearing as we seemed to fall off tackles.

Nonetheless, the next two scores went our way when, with half time approaching, centre Josh Goldman scored out wide for a 22-14 lead and a bonus point in the bag.

This was quickly followed by another try, when the pace of scrum half Ed Brady caught the home defence in two minds as he picked up from the base of the scrum and dashed over from 15 metres, Davey converted to take us to half-time with a 29-14 lead. 

An early second half penalty from Josh Davey after a high tackle put us 18 points clear, a lead that we should perhaps have built on or at the very least protected.

It was the home side though that stirred into action and two converted tries brought them back into the game. 

Having given away a comfortable lead and with Cullompton beginning to gain the upper hand, things were not looking too bright.

Then came a try out of the blue, we kicked a penalty to touch but a rare lineout loss looked to have ruined any chance of increasing the lead.

However, Goldman was quickly out of the blocks to charge down the attempted clearance kick and win the race to score his second, Davey converted and at 39-28 perhaps we would settle down and run the clock down.

Once again though, we seemed to hit the self-destruct button and a miss pass was intercepted and the home centre raced half the length of the pitch to score, the relatively simple conversion was missed leaving us six points to the good.

The final five minutes had supporters from both sides on the edge of their seats and, when we conceded a penalty, it looked ominous for us as the kick to touch was well judged and Cullompton had a line out five metres out.

A converted try would undoubtedly have given them the win. Fortunately, from our perspective, they butchered their lineout and we managed to clear to touch in what was the last kick of the game.

Overall, we can look back and yes there was some rugby of real quality, the scrum worked well and for the most part held the advantage.

The lineouts too were in good shape with Tom Mortimer in imperious form providing clean possession and disrupting the home lineout.

The backs showed some real class at times with quick handling albeit at times perhaps a bit over elaborate. 

However, for some reason and to be fair very unusually, our defence was very suspect at times.

Nonetheless, 10 points from two away games at the start of the season will stand us in good stead later on and keeps us in the group at the top with maximum points.

Crediton Thirds 60 - Topsham Thirds 0

AS the sun shone brightly for Crediton Firsts at Cullompton so it did at Crediton where the Thirds hosted Topsham Thirds at Blagdon.

The players certainly responded to the glorious weather as they put on a display of running rugby that belied the level at which they are playing.

It was a dominant performance in most aspects of the game with a strong pack of forwards driving Topsham off their own ball in the scrums and Henry Howard and Paul Ratchford disrupting the visitors lineouts.

A strong defensive shift from centre's Jamie Crang and Bradley Baker prevented Topsham breaking through although they had their moments of pressure in our “22” but we put up a strong defensive wall to stop them scoring.

A man of the match performance from winger Tom O’Donnell playing out of position which quite suited him!

He scored three tries including a solo effort when ran in from our own half!

His wing partner Tariq Sayers also put in a strong performance with Topsham having to use at least three players to stop him each time, such is his strength he powered over to bag a try.

Not to be outdone our back row Henry Howard and Ben Rodd each scored a try whilst also putting in a strong defensive shift as always.

The evergreen Bradley Baker moved from centre to wing at half-time and had a very strong game rolling back the years and carving up the Topsham defence and bagging a try, Chris Baker broke of the back of a maul and took on three defenders but getting the better of them he wrestled his way over the line to get himself a try.

Elliot White was on-hand to touch down after a strong running forward break.

Harry Husterwayte, another of last seasons Colts, had a great game at fullback and crossed the whitewash in his first season in senior rugby. 

A mention to Richard Gray, another player of great experience and who is passing on his knowledge to Ash Nicks who is rapidly improving having only played a handful of games before.

Another great performance from Owen Cooper for organising the backs and slotting five Conversions!

All in all it was a fantastic team performance and one that will be remembered for years.

It was encouraging for rugby in general within Devon that Topsham have managed to put out a Third XV this season and enter the Merit Table.

Thanks to them for coming over and never giving up, we wish them all the best for the season and look forward to the return fixture.

Ivybridge Colts 73 - Crediton Colts 14

TRIES from Jake Kibbey and Archie Bridgeman were scant reward for a brave effort by the young Crediton Colts team against another of the stronger Colts sides in the County. Kibbey converted both.

Colts rugby is very cyclical and this year we have mainly first year Colts, their time will come.

Whilst it is obviously nice for players and coaches to win games, in age grade sport that should never be how success is judged.

Yes, we all want to win games and it is only right that players should do their best to achieve that but, the real success is seen in how many players make the transition into Senior rugby.

These players are, after all, the future of any Club and at Crediton we have a wonderful record of seeing former junior players appearing in the Senior sides and of course many who move on to play at a higher level.

Results like this will happen to every team from time to time but players are resilient and will no doubt bounce back.

On Saturday, the First XV have their first home game of the season against a somewhat rejuvenated Newton Abbot team whilst the Quins travel to Cullompton having had a weekend off this week.

The Thirds travel to Bideford Seconds for a Merit Table fixture. The Colts play on Sunday away at Weston Hornets in the National Cup.

Paul Harris