Exeter Athletic 10 - Crediton Quins 52

EXETER Athletic had shown an upturn in form in recent weeks especially since we handed them a 107 point drubbing a couple of months ago.

Certainly, that victory had to be considered a one off and consigned to history, this would be a different Athletic side desperately seeking to make amends for that earlier reverse and of course we needed to keep the momentum going in order to hang on to the promotion spot.

The game started well with the Quins immediately on the attack and despite the conditions the handling was very good.

Crediton scored first out wide and it didn't take long for a couple more to be added.

However, just when we thought we could run away with it, the home side hit back with a couple of tries of their own but we reached the interval with a 25-10 lead.

The second half began in similar style with the Quins on the charge and the Athletic simply could not cope with the attacking onslaught and we bagged a further five tries in the second half.

Despite the conditions both teams played really well with each side building some great passages of play.

The Quins defence was unbroken in the second half and we ended the game with a 52 to 10 victory. Clearly not a day for kicking off the tee as only one try was converted all afternoon.

No8 Chris Hooper and winger Callum Yeandle each bagged a brace of tries, the Dodge brothers, James and Joe scored one apiece, and there were also tries from Harvey Murfitt, Tom Luxmoore, newcomer Oliver Chandler-Sullivan and Tom Hunt in his first game back from injury. James Dodge landed the solitary conversion of the afternoon.

The Quins still top the league with 69 points but have a particularly difficult run in with four games remaining.

We are seven points clear of New Cross (62) and we have to face Sidmouth Seconds at home, with Tiverton Seconds, Exeter Engineers and New Cross all away.

Second placed New Cross have only three games remaining, at home against Tiverton Seconds, away at Exeter Engineers and at home against Crediton Quins.

North Tawton are a further five points back (57) with games to come at home against Okehampton Seconds, away at Teignmouth Seconds, and then at home against Exeter Athletic and Sidmouth.

Sidmouth in fourth place on 54 points but five games remaining, away at Okehampton and Crediton, at home against Cullompton and two more away games at Newton Abbot and North Tawton.

With four games involving teams in the top four, the situation is wide open but the ball is very much in our court but we need 11 points from those four games to guarantee promotion.

The Thirds and Colts had no game on Saturday, Honiton Seconds and Paignton Colts were each unable to raise a team.

This Saturday, the First, Quins and Third XV’s and have no game but the Veterans host South Molton in the Wooden Spoon Veterans League and the Colts travel to Devonport.

Paul Harris