Honiton storm back to beat Withies

Honiton stormed back from behind to win by 19 points to 16 at Withycombe on Saturday afternoon to give themselves a much needed boost. Having lost three games before Saturday’s fixture, the Lacemen were delighted to get back to winning ways.

In truth, Honiton have played better this season and ended up on the losing side. However, with 25 minutes of concentrated effort at the end of the game, they hauled themselves from 16-5 down to win.

Honiton started reasonably brightly, carrying the ball well into the hosts’ half. However, the wind was against them and they struggled to mount sustained attacks, with basic errors hampering their progress. Furthermore, their kicking was inaccurate on occasions, compounded by some lackadaisical chase work - unforgivable at any level.

A skirmish developed on the half way line involving 20 or so players, the nett result of which saw Kenny sin-binned for a perceived misdemeanour. Honiton struggled without their scrum half and the Withycombe number 9 squeezed in to claim the game’s first try shortly after their fly half had kicked a penalty.

Honiton failed to create anything for the rest of the half, as they were denied possession. At the turn around, they knew things had to improve and with the wind, they faired much better in the second period.

Quick thinking from Josh Rice saw him tap and go on his own 10 yard line. He had tapped the ball behind the ref, and most thought that he would be pulled back, and reacted as such. However, play went on and decent support saw the ball move to the left from the central ruck on the hosts’ 10 yard line.

Good handling saw Rice escape down the flank and cross in the corner. Webber was unlucky with the conversion from out wide.

Honiton went into their shell for a period and gave away several needless penalties, the home side’s reliable number ten taking the score to 16-5.

The Lacemen needed to up the ante and they started by defending their line. The home side first swung the ball wide, where Canniford made an important tackle, and then the forwards did their bit in the tight. Honiton escaped from their half and did so with vigour, carrying the ball down the left hand channel, before swinging the ball to the right. Meadows and company found Small down the right and he crossed in the corner. As he crossed the line he was high tackled and the referee awarded a penalty try which Webber banged over.

The Lacemen could smell victory, and decent carries from Channing and Josh Rice took play deep into the Withycombe half before Meadows put Ollie Rice through the gain line. He was tackled just short, but Dalton was in support to gather the offload and cross from 15 yards to score his debut try and ensure the win for his side. Channing fired over the conversion to make it a happy Hallowe’en!