We have never won a Devon cup at senior level so what better than to win one at home on a lovely sunny afternoon against a team we know well and one where we also know the officials like old friends.
But let me tell you that you should never take Crediton for granted, they may be six places below us in the league but this season they have had some great results, tripping up some good teams on their ground including us where we lost by a point, and at home we only managed to sneak in by three points, they deserve to be higher than they are.

On a rather warm afternoon with a little breeze, we started brightly and it started to look as if we were going to run away with this final. From the off we got close to their line and looked threatening but the ball carrier rolled once too often and referee Adam Nicholas penalised us, Crediton cleared the danger but we came back and on four minutes the forwards mauled Andy Pond over the line to score under a number of players.
Richard Goldsby-West converted. 7~0.
Then on seven minutes a penalty to us was put over by Richard Goldsby-West 10~0.
Crediton pulled themselves together and got into our half and won a penalty on thirteen minutes, midfield and halfway into our twenty-two, for Ollie Avery-Wright a bread and butter three points. 10~3.
Only five minutes later Crediton showed their determination with a try. Deep into our twenty-two, they attacked but failed to get to the line, the referee was playing advantage in front of the posts, from there Crediton attacked three times then sent the ball to the right for Bobby Saunders, with a man outside him just in case, who dived in under little pressure right by the school end corner flag. The Olli Avery-Wright conversion attempt hit the nearside post and fell dead. 10~8.

Five more minutes and Services put a little distance between themselves and Crediton when Rikki Bentham scored from a forwards catch and drive. The Conversion from out wide and with the ‘wrong foot’ missed. 15~8.
On just about thirty minutes a top class penalty from Ollie Avery-Wright, close to the touchline and I would say outside the twenty-two sailed majestically over to close the gap again. 15~11.

Once again we gained a little clear water between us when Richard Goldsby-West kicked a fairly simple, for him, penalty on thirty-four minutes. 18~11.
Closing in on half time the gap widened for a short while when Harrison Reburn scored a try. From a scrum just outside their twenty-two, which we easily held, Dylan Daley made a good run to the ten-yard line and was stopped, couple more thrusts at their line before Harrison got the ball and made a curving run managing to evade the winger to score about a quarter of the way in on the left and like the Crediton try, had a spare man outside just in case. The Richard Goldsby-West conversion went over. 25~11.
After a couple more minutes play and an attempted drop goal by Richard Goldsby-West that missed Adam Nicholas blew and that was the halftime score.

The lineouts were going well for both teams, We were on top in the mauls and in the scrums pushing them back most of the time, but on a couple of occasions they pushed us back.
It was a hot afternoon just walking up and down the sidelines taking photos never mind running around the pitch.
At 25 ~ 11 it looked as if at last we were about to parcel tape Crediton into their box.

Five minutes into the second half and we were under gentle pressure deep in our twenty-two. I could see the dreaded box kick about to happen, it did and as almost always the opposition gained the ball and ran it back at us, a try saving tackle did just that but in the process, Matt Richard was penalised and had the yellow card waved aloft. Crediton ran the penalty at us and with the ball quickly through the hands of winger Devon Hosegood, scored right by the corner flag by the entrance. The sideline conversion was missed and the gap was closed to 25~16.

We came close to scoring again with a penalty that we chose to go for the catch and drive with, which we did, but close to the line the referee blew for, I think, obstruction. Crediton took it quickly, a couple of quick passes and Devon Hosegood set off at pace from deep into his twenty-two and down the left-wing, he evaded a couple of attempted tackles to score, what I thought was the try of the match, in the same corner he had scored in shortly before and all this on his birthday.
The sideline conversion was missed. The score now a tense 25~21.

Sixteen minutes and Olli Avery-Wright, rather surprisingly, missed a simple looking penalty.
On twenty-three minutes it was Richard Goldsby-West’s turn for a penalty kick which he kicked from quite a bit outside the twenty-two. 28~21.
Three minutes later he repeated his last effort from even slightly further back. 31~21.
Those two penalties took Services into a ten-point lead that Crediton would have trouble closing in the time remaining.
With four minutes to go Rhys Williams picked up a yellow card but by this time the game was all but won.
Well into injury time we cleaned our lines and I think it was prop Rikki Bentham had a strong run down the right ring from about halfway to inside their twenty-two sending the ball inside when stopped with it ending with Harrison Reburn to score his second.
The sideline conversion was missed and shortly after that, the final whistle went.
A really enjoyable match, rather more tense than some of us would have liked at one point, but once it was over and the cup won it is a nice feeling to have watched a really competitive game on such a nice day.
Thanks to Adam Nicholas for a good afternoon's refereeing.

Ken Jeffery the Devon President assisted by secretary Treve Mitchell presented the medals and the runners-up trophy to the Crediton captain and players, and the winner's plate and medals to Matt Gregory and his players.
With one more game to go, away to St Austell, it was a good afternoon for Mike Lewis who is about to stand down after six years or so as head coach.

The team.
1. Rikki Bentham.
2. Chey Bryce.
3. Greg Thomas.
4. Mike Rickard.
5. Andy Pond.
6. Tyler Busfield.
7. James Hocking.
8. Matt Gregory. Capt.
9. Dylan Daley.
10. Richard Goldsby-West.
11. Joe Rider.
12. Tom Richards.
13.Harrison Reburn.
14. Matt Richards.
15. Rhys Williams.
16. Liam Williams.
17. Olli Symons.
18. Matt Scott.
19. James McQuillan.
20. Josh Hemmings.
21. Luke Stannard.
22. Jacob Phillips.
Manager and coach. Mike Lewis.
Referee Adam Nicholas. DRRS.
Linesmen. Steve Harland and James Grant, DRRS.
Photos by Mike Yeats, DSRFC v Crediton, Devon senior shield final. Ap22

Photos by Jo Hocking, DSRFC v Crediton. Devon senior shield final. April 22