Honiton Vs Crediton, rugby action at Allhallows ground. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref mhsp 0465-03-12AW. To order your copy of this photograph, go to www.midweekherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24

Honiton 1st XV 33, Crediton 7

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

Email address

  Send link

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

It was high stakes at Allhallows on Saturday as Honiton took on Crediton and they had to win to stop Kirton taking over at the top of the table.Honiton just lost away and were keen to redress the balance, writes Jerry Rice.

Honiton played up the field in the first half where there was a marked contrast of styles -the visitors favouring the mauling, pick and go style whilst Honiton tried to play open rugby.

Despite sticky conditions underfoot, Honiton broke the deadlock when good ball was transferred along the backs and James Coutes Tucker skinned his man to touch down near the upright. Channing knocked over the extras.

From the restart Honiton did not secure the ball and Crediton, after several pick and goes, mauled a try over which was also well converted. Crediton pressed but Honiton weathered the storm well with some good defence especially in the mid field where Barrett and Hyland made big hits and crucially they did not give Crediton any positional chances to apply their effective maul over the line.

So having done the hard bit it was Honiton’s turn to use the slope advantage and, in a short space of time, the damage was done as they blew the title contenders away. From the kick off, a Jason Hannay fielded ball was transferred across the back line to Josh Barrett who showed pace to speed in under the post. Canniford kicked the conversion. Impressive new signing Callum Hill ploughed through the middle of defence on the halfway line and cleverly off loaded to Josh Rice who rounded the opponents’ quick winger at pace to win the race for the line.

Honiton started to dominate and, with only 10 minutes of the half gone, number nine Johnny Selway crossed from short range to guarantee the bonus point. Crediton did try to get back into the game with patient rucking. Honiton got their fifth try when good work from the forwards was spun wide again and with no defence on the narrow side from the ensuing ruck Barrett was released again and he ran in unopposed from the 10 metre line. Ollie Cave picked up the kicking duties and knocked over the extras and this gave Honiton a comfortable 33-7 lead.