Liskeard-Looe 3, Honiton RFC 1st XV 7

Trips to play games in Cornwall are never an easy prospect and Saturday’s game against Looe and Liskeard was, on paper, a potential banana skin for Honiton 1st XV, writes Nick Guilbert.

Added to this tough ask, Honiton also had several enforced changes in personnel and the torrential rain for the hour before kick off meant Honiton’s “out wide” main attacking weapon would be difficult to implement. There was, in fact, a serious doubt as to whether it was going to be playable.

With the slope advantage and the gale and rain behind then, Honiton had the early advantage and they spent most of the half in opposition territory. An early, easy penalty chance was missed and unfortunately that was the case for the rest of the half as three other kickable penalties went just wide by the usually reliable boot of Channing. To be fair to the kickers and those trying to handle the ball, conditions were tough and neither side were able to string any real passages of play together. Honiton’s cause was helped with a sin binning of one of the home side who was lucky not to have had his full marching orders, but the half finished in an uninspiring 0-0 score line.

With Honiton’s turn to face the elements they were facing their first defeat in Cornwall. The error strewn game continued with neither side getting any traction or phases of play and it was anything but enjoyable to watch. They eventually gave away a penalty that the home side slotted over.

Honiton dug deep and, from sustained pressure, they battered the home defence and number 8 Josh Rice ran in under the sticks which allowed Ollie Cave to kick the pressure goal.

With 10 minutes to go it was all the Cornishmen as they battered the defence. Honiton just managed to hang on despite several try line defensive scrambles and when the final whistle went there was nothing but huge relief all round.

Still, a win is a win and Honiton rode their luck to remain undefeated in Cornwall. With six games left in the league they remain in top spot.