Crediton v Withycombe

Dad's Army Fall Short at Kirton

Withycombe's old guard let victory slip through their fingers at fiercest rivals

Crediton 21
Withycombe 18

Withycombe put their promotion hopes in the hands of the top two as Crediton escaped with victory in a highly-charged encounter on Saturday.

With conditions at Exhibition Road more suited to bog snorkelling than rugby union the game threatened to turn into a shambles but both teams looked to play rugby as much as possible. Withycombe's pack was unsurprisingly their biggest weapon and twice in the first half hour the visitors' hard work to put themselves in front was for nought as Crediton hit back with penalties just minutes later. With Crediton captain Mark Nott finally seeing yellow, a rolling maul just before half time gave Mike Richards his now customary five pointer, Glenn Channing converting to put Withycombe 13-6 up. Withy would once again shoot themselves in the foot as from the ensuing kickoff Crediton won themselves a penalty to claw back another three points.

The home side came out in the second half with their tails up, and a strong rolling maul gave them the field position for a set of pick and go drives to score by the posts. The game was very much tit for tat and though Withycombe might be able to console themselves with playing the better rugby, they struggled to make enough ground in the territory game which was proving crucial in the conditions. With 15 minutes to go they worked themselves a lineout close to the Crediton line and Dave Richards claimed some karmic retribution for the punch in the first half by crashing over to put Withy's nose back in front, perhaps by virtue of Richards' being twice its normal XL size.

Just four minutes later Crediton would break Withycombe hearts by turning the ball over at the end of a very short advantage, running the ball back all the way to the try line to put themselves three points in front. With eleven minutes remaining the stuffing had all but been knocked out of Withycombe's spirit but somehow they found the strength to work their way back up the field and gain a lineout five metres from Crediton's line. With Jon Axon pulled down in the air, skipper John Parkin had no interest in the draw and went straight back to the lineout but a fumbled catch gifted possession to Crediton and the game was over.


Next week Withycombe welcome Saltash to Raleigh Park for an RFU Junior Vase fixture, the final of which will take place at Twickenham.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Kev Rodwell, Joe Parkin, Dave Passmore, Andy Matchett, Glenn Channing (1C, 2P), John Parkin, Phil Sluman, Dave Richards (1T), Liam Cullen, Matt Bragg, Jon Axon, Andrei Toma, Eugene Badenhorst, Mike Richards (1T). Reps: Sam Manning, Connor Gilby, Tom Counsell.

Bude v Withycombe (3-1-15)

Bude 14

Withycombe 7

 

Withycombe's promotion hopes took a knock in atrocious conditions at Bude on Saturday.

There was little to write home about as two enormous packs traded punches for twenty minutes until the scoring was inevitably opened by a rolling maul under the Withycombe posts. With scores hard to come by, Bude's lead took on added significance and Withycombe were almost having too chase the game. The ball in hand was a liability and Withycombe's territory game left something to be desired, although they spent the final ten minutes of the half knocking at the door in the Bude 22.

With the emphasis in the half time team talk laid squarely on scoring first and getting back into the game, Glenn Channing's early missed penalty proved costly as Bude promptly marched up the pitch and scored their second try, the impressive touchline conversion putting victory three scores from the visitors. After twenty minutes of effort and a Bude yellow card for persistent offending, Joe Parkin scampered through the defence to get Withycombe back into the game with ten minutes to go, but the Green & Black couldn't repeat the trick and the game slipped away. Struggling OPM visit Withycombe this Saturday.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Will Hockin, Joe Parkin (1T), Andrei Toma, Terry Mears, Glenn Channing (1C), John Parkin, Chris Gibbons, Dave Richards, Phil Sluman, Dave Sims, Jon Axon, Connor Gilby, Simon Tozer, Mike Richards. Reps: Sam Manning, Tim WIlls, Kevin Rodwell.

Withycombe v OPM

Withycombe 66
OPM 20

Withycombe prepared for next weekend's crunch clash with Crediton by thumping OPMs after a stunning 49-point second half.

The match started prmisingly enough for the Green & Black; OPM not even getting a touch of the ball until after Fridge Gibbons had walked over the tryline at the back of a rolling maul on six minutes. Withycombe's eagerness to play cost them as the visitors kicked a penalty after three minutes of scrappy play in the Withycombe half, but the hosts got back on track on twenty minutes when Joe Parkin took advantage of some indecision in the OPM backfield, catching Jack Pugsley's high ball and running in untouched from 20 metres. Once again Withycombe would concede immediately, this time a wind-assisted penalty kick from the 10m line.

Just two minutes later the visitors missed another penalty from a bit further out, and after ten minutes of ordinary play, some lax defending in the Withycombe midfield allowed the Plymothians under the posts to nudge themselves ahead 13-12. The celebrations wouldn't last long as Glenn Channing's show-and-go from quick lineout ball put Joe Parkin in for his second on half time. The second half would be a completely diffferent affair, although it took ten minutes for the floodgates to open. 

Simon Tozer's introduction from the bench provided plenty of impetus, and it was his big "don't argue" fend that set the counter attack in motion that saw fellow benchwarmer Will Hockin score his first ever try for Withycombe, a neat sidestep flummoxing the defending full back on his way under the posts. Hockin would be involved again a few minutes later as a first phase backs move put Kev Rodwell in the corner, with Glenn Channing nailing the touchline conversion to keep up his perfect second half. Channing followed that with yet another show and go under the posts, before debutant Tom Counsell finally got just reward for his sterling running lines; Joe Parkin set the break in motion, offloading to the tireless Tozer who put Counsell away. Three minutes later Joe Parkin once again turned provider, brother John finishing off another long range try following a tap penalty. Parkin Jr's man-of-the-match performance was capped shortly afterwardswith a deft grubber kick as he was bundled out of bounds that left Will Hockin with the easiest of finishes for his brace. Terry Mears wrapped up the Withycombe scoring with a solo kick return from his own half, before OPM had the last word with a consolation try.

Withycombe: Jack Pugsley, Terry Mears (1T), Joe Parkin (2T, MoM), Tom Counsell (1T), Kevin Rodwell (1T), Glenn Channing (1T, 8C), John Parkin (1T), Chris Gibbons (1T), Dave Richards, Liam Cullen, Jon Axon, Tim Wills, Andrei Toma, Eugene Badenhorst, Connor Gilby. Reps: Sam Manning, Simon Tozer, Will Hockin (2T)