A nice little win

After going down by the unexpectedly heavy margin of 34~14 away to Crediton away we would hope to take our revenge on The Rectory and so we did.
Crediton came down to us three places below us but with a game in hand; they also came down with quite a few supporters.
The afternoon remained dry apart from a few spots of rain early on, the pitch was soft but spiking by the ground staff left it free of any really soft or wet parts.

We kicked off and managed to keep them in their half for the first eight minutes, eventually they got hold of the ball and kicked out in to our half, Rhys Williams caught and high kicked it back to them, just when the home crowd thought that maybe he should have held on to it he caught his own ball, a typical weaving run and he was away and under the posts to give Matt Anstis an easy conversion, 7~0.
From the restart Crediton kept us in our half for a minute or two before we turned the ball over, Rhys Williams again made a lovely run from his own half on the club house side to the north side ten meters out, tackled full back Eddie McGinley in his debut game took up the ball and beat the defence to score in the corner, The conversion hit the post and went out, 12~0.
On fifteen minutes Crediton got on the board with a penalty from our twenty-two, 12~3.
On eighteen minutes and from a half way line out a nice move by us and the ball ended with Callum Perkins who deserved to score after a lovely run to beat most of the defenders, just short of the line he wrong footed the final defender but instead of carrying on and scoring he went in to the defender and was tackled, the supporting player was not able to hold on to the ball otherwise it was another seven points in the bag.
Twenty minutes a lovely cross field kick by Matt Anstis saw Rhys Williams and the Crediton full back running on to the ball as it want over the line, fortunately for Crediton the full back got to it a milli second before Rhys.
On twenty six minutes Crediton got seriously in to our half for nearly the first time, a series on free kicks got them there then with a backs move they looked dangerous and with an over lap looked on for a try in the seaward corner but just before the final pass Rhys Williams did a try saving tackle to save the day.
After this Crediton came back in to the game and had a period of good possession, but the final move of the half came to us with a five meter line out, unfortunately the thrown ball fell in to a gap with a Crediton player in it and the ball was kicked away.
The second half got under way with our kick off, we got to their line for a five-meter scrum but they forced up our front row and from it kicked away. We came back at them and won a penalty only for it to go south of the upright.
The scrums for the most part had been even but in the second half the Crediton scrum took a slight edge.
Twenty-two minutes and a try to Matt Anstis, he could have passed out but chose the gap and was strong enough to stretch and score despite being held back by his shirt tails. With the try about six feet south of the schoolhouse end posts it was an easy conversion for him. 19~3.
Our bonus point try came from a move started by Joe Daley on half way, he passed to Eddie McGinley who cracked the defence to pass to Callum Perkins who went in under the post for an easy conversion and a 26~3 lead.
At this point the game looked won.
Crediton attacked through their backs, a good move looked dangerous but the final pass was delayed and a saving tackle made.
After one of Crediton’s attacks into our half we managed to steal their ball and Matt Anstis found himself out in the lead ball in hand, no close support and still with three quarters of the pitch to go, Taxi for Anstis! went up the cry.
On thirty four minutes Crediton got in close to our line, we defended the first foray well but they had a second go on the other side of the pitch, from a catch and drive they drove and got to the line and were awarded a try by referee Ian Freestone that was converted.
The game dribbled on this way and that Services had a few more attacks at the Crediton line that should have born fruit but that was it and Ian Freestone blew his whistle to make the final score 26~10.

If The Rectory was a racetrack the going would be described as heavy which must have made it hard work for the players.
A 26~10 win with a bonus point is always very welcome and moves us up to seventh place in the league.
In the interests of describing the game to anyone not at The Rectory a few points.
The defenders opinion was that the Crediton try was a foot short but let’s not quibble the referee gave it and there’s the end of it.
We should have scored one more in the first half and came close to scoring a second. In the second half all our pressure should have given us at least one try and probably two. That we didn’t score more in the second half was due to good defence by Crediton.
All in all a super effort by the players under sticky conditions.
Thanks to the players and to referee Ian Freestone for a good afternoons entertainment and while we are about it thanks also to Jane for the catering, to Aud behind the bar, to Kieran’s Chloe for helping where ever it was needed and to Graham for doing the dhobi.
Alex Matthews was made man-of-the-match.
As usual it was all free at The Rectory.