Good to see Colt Elliott Pocknell score the first and last try in his debut game. A great start for him.
The Firsts.
1. Tyler Busfield. P.I.M. Financial Services.
2. Rob Walsh. NESC, Nuclear Engineering and Safety Consultants.
3. Oli Symons. Greenlight Safety Consultants Ltd.
4. Matt Gregory (c). HSK Building Services.
5. Mike Rickard. Pon Nic properties.
6. Liam Jarvis. Steel Brew.
7. Bertie Fordham. Accurocare, lifestyle choices.
8. James Hocking. Redmoor snacks.
9. Richard Goldsby-West. (c). Smashland Burgers.
10. Sam Brown. Eden Clinic.
11. Tom Davies. Pantheon Gym.
12. Elliott Pocknell.
13. Charlie Over.
14. Charlie Groves. Journeaux accountancy
15. Matt Neyle. Cherry plumbing and heating.
16. Freddie Dover. Invisible to Invincible.
17. Josh Martin. JML Bricklaying
18. Billy Sutton.

The Management.
Ben Russell.
Aiden Taylor.

Second team match report.
Honiton today, earlier in the season, we lost in a close game by 34~31.
So for that reason, and because the team changed by five players during the week, and then by another two on the morning of the game. We were also without some of our speediest runners.

That said, it was a really competitive game and good to watch; both sides had to defend hard and both sides scored three tries each.

On a lovely day, with the few rain showers gone and the sun beaming, the game kicked off.
The first five minutes both sides had attacks and then having to defend, but on five minutes it was Honiton who got on the scoreboard first, in an attack they put the ball to the backs and sent it towards the club house side, on our twenty-two sideline their winger was bundled into touch by Luke Stannard but was just able to get the ball away and their full back, James Coutts-Taylor made a straight line for the scoreboard corner to touch down just before the defence got there. The sideline conversion was good and they were 0~7 up.
Early on, we suffered a further setback when strong running forward Ron Duffield had to go off with an injury, not too serious, I think, more of a precaution.
We came back with a series of attacks started after their clearance kick went straight into touch, we won three penalties and went for short lineouts, They defended their line really well, James McFarlane was held up on one, then on the last we quickly put it to the left wing to find Nathan Todd who took it cleanly and with a defender diving at him sensibly dived for the line about ten feet out, leaving the defender, who also dived, to go over him, a tall and strong player his momentum took him to the line to score at the entrance corner.
The conversion was just short, bouncing off the top of the post protector. 5~7.

Honiton came back and got close to our line, but good defending held them up, on a second attack, they again got very close to the line but we stole their ball and Rohan Johnson box kicked to touch just short of halfway.

On twenty–four minutes, Honiton scored again, after we cleared our lines, they came at us down the middle, when they got over our twenty-two, their No 7, Ben Spence, managed to break free and had the speed to dive in under the crossbar, the conversion was a simple one, 5~14.
Five minutes later, we scored, from our restart kick, we did really well to reclaim the ball and for a few minutes made progress toward their line, then down the right wing and running towards the turnstile corner, No7 Henry Gascoyne, who went in under some pressure from the defenders to score by the flag. Kicking from wide out and into the low sun, Rohan Johnson's kick just went past the near post. 10~14.
On thirty two minutes, they missed a penalty from the twenty-two-yard line.
Right on half time, they won a penalty, kicked for a five-yard line out, took it, and from about ten yards out drove quickly for our line, our forwards organised themselves and drove them back from whence they came and quite a bit further.
They attacked again but our defence held them out.

And so we reached half-time four points behind.
The scrums were even on the whole, occasionally we moved them back a few feet, and a couple of times they pushed us seriously.
Our lineouts were going well and we were showing stronger in the mauls

After the start twice, we kept them out by good defence, once their scrum pushed us a couple of scrum lengths back.
Then they made a strong run down the clubhouse wing towards the entrance end, it was looking good for them but on our twenty-two Nathan Todd dived and just got hold of his shirt, was able to just about stop him then the defence came across and completely stopped him about ten feet out, however they were able to get he ball away and quickly down the line to the stand side for their winger, Ben Kidson, to go in untroubled about halfway in to score, the conversion went over. 10~21.

We nearly scored a try when Colt Harry Entiknap got to the line near the scoreboard under heavy pressure, but he was deemed held up.
Then, a try to us to keep us in contention, I forget the time, but the forwards had been attacking their line near the scoreboard when James ‘Spud’ McFarlane was strong enough to force himself through the defenders to score. The conversion missed. 14~21.
In the last fifteen minutes, we really started to take it to them and had them on the back foot, twice we won penalties, and on the first went for a catch and drive, the forwards mauled well and were gathering speed and should have gone over, but it stopped suddenly when they fell over a fallen Honiton forward. A chance missed.
Then, shortly afterwards, a second penalty just about in front of the posts, Ben Wadham, who had the ball, quickly tapped it and went, taking his mates by surprise. He made good ground but was stopped before the other forwards could support him. Another catch-and-drive might have been better, but sometimes these things work.
We attacked a few more times, they won a scrum, and shortly afterwards kicked out for the win.

All in all, a disappointing afternoon, level on tries, but their kicker kicked well and had easier kicks.
They were a big and mobile side, who should be nearer the top of the table.

Afterwards, Aiden Taylor spoke, I missed most of what he said, but I think it was quite complimentary, and so it should have been.
We lost to a good side; team changes did not help, but there were lots of good performances.
Luke Stannard was all over the place running and tackling his socks off, Ethan Millard and Elliott Lupson ran well, and Nathan Todd had a great game, shame to single out anyone really.
The Mike Yeats Man of the Match sponsored by Jack West of TACS accountancy was Henry Gascoyne.
Thanks to Referee Ryan Yeoman for giving up his afternoon for us.
The Second team.

1. Cameron Donkin – sponsored by SIPPS
2. Ethan Hilland. Sustainability and Engineering consultants.
3. James McFarlane. Armada Social Work Services
4. Aaron Duffield. Start-up marketing.
5. Alex Gibson.
6. Nathan Todd. We remember submariners.
7. Henry Gascoyne.
8. Ethan Millard. Vessel Social Work Services
9. Ben Wadhm.
10. Aiden Taylor.
11. Brandon Knight.
12. Harry Entignap.
13. Elliott Lupson.
14. Rohan Johnson.
15. Luke Stannard.
16. Charlie Newcombe.
17. Khane Taylor-Young.
18. Matt Witcher. MAG Roofing Ltd.

The Management.
Dickie Duffield. Esq.
Steve Hilland

With a few players moved to the firsts and seconds, the Colts had a decent win over OPM Colts on the Creek.
At the end of the first half, OPM scored their try to end the half on 19~5, and at the start of the second half, OPM Colts had us under pressure for periods, and it was not till well into the half that we regained control and went on to win by 40~5.
Scorers' names to come.
The Colts.
1. Rob O'Neill
2. Nathan Lumley
3. Charlie Craven
4. Owen Hicks
5. Nathan Harvey
6. Hassan Ahmed Jero
7. Cosmo Searls
8. Guy Slavin
9. Isaac Hilland
10. Seth Stephenson
11. Zac Sausse
12. Elyas Hall
13. Liam Furze
14. Freddy Ticehurst
15. Max Pennington
16. Kassim Shaibu