Devon and Cornwall League- Saturday 4th September - Totnes 27 -18 Crediton

So after what seemed like an age, Totnes chiefs had finely got to the first league game of the new season, and would be playing Crediton who were last years runners up in the fight for promotion from the Devon and Cornwall league.

This was unknown territory for the coaching staff and team players alike, and so with much anticipation the players took to Borough Park. Many of the clubs supporters turned up to watch under sunny skies and a brisk easterly breeze.

Head Coach Harries had a full squad to pick from, and the advantage of seeing everyone in action over the past two weekends in pre-season friendlies. Captain for the second season, Lex Keen led out his side to welcome applause from the local supporters.
Crediton kicked off into the breeze and did well to recover the ball, and launched their first attack down the right hand side of the park, but Totnes did well to snuff out the attack with some strong tackling in midfield from new boy Tom Martin and Reece Smith in the centres. Play continued around the Totnes 22 area, and Crediton were awarded a kickable penalty following an infringement at a ruck, this was converted to give Crediton the narrowest of leads.

Totnes soon had the opportunity to make amend after some promising forays in to the opponents half, when Chris Hooper playing at ~Hooper had a penalty kick at goal, unfortunately his first attempt sailed wide of the uprights. Two minutes later when faced with a similar opportunity he made no mistake and blasted the ball through to level the scores.
Totnes were the quicker side to settle, and more than held their own in the early scrimmages and line outs. Some well taken line outs and aggressive rucking and mauling saw them spend time in the opposition half, often stretching the Crediton defence out of shape giving themselves some scoring opportunities. Following a couple of close attempts Fly Half Andy Rive received quick ball from Scrum Half Mark Hooper from a ruck near the Crediton try line, and muscled his way over for the first try of the afternoon. Chris Hooper having now found his kicking boots made no mistake with the extra two pint conversion.
Hooper had another successful penalty attempt, a few minutes later and the score increased to 13-3 with 20 minutes played. Crediton worked hard to defend against a Totnes side that were enjoying their rugby and working hard to find another score. In a rare breakout from their own half Crediton managed to secure another penalty just outside the Totnes 22, and their fly half made no mistake and banged over the ball for n another three points.
From the restart Totnes once again drove the ball forward, using their powerful back row trio of Hamilton, Horrocks and Alex Smith to punch holes in the Crediton defence.  This was backed up by the remaining forwards being on hand to secure quick clean ruck ball for Hooper to distribute out to his backs. It was from a probing attacking down the middle that Rive picked up a low ball on his fingertips to find Smith steaming up alongside him like a freight train, a defy flip of the ball and Smith was away, scything through the Crediton defence and scoring behind the posts, giving the Totnes fullback the simplest of conversions.

With only a few minutes left in the half Totnes were once again in a good field position on their opponents 22 facing a Crediton scrum, a good shove from the Totnes pack had Crediton moving backwards, flanker Horrocks pressured the scrum half into a loose pass which was bobbled by the Crediton fly half, this was all snipping Totnes scrum half Hooper need, who deftly nudged the ball forward with his foot, then controlled it to touch down for a well taken opportunistic try, which was once again converted by his brother, giving Totnes a 27 point to 6 lead at the break.
The start of the second half saw the wise old Crediton side start playing a different tactic by slowing the ball down and keeping the ball within the forwards, starving the potent attacking plan that Totnes had used to such good effect in the first half. The first 15 minutes of the half saw a Crediton pack secure ball and well placed kicking from their fly half saw field position appear for them where it had not in the first half. Stout resolute defence did Totnes proud, but Crediton were certainly tiring out the Totnes side.

Coach harries bought on new blood, replacing debutante Tom Edmonds in the front row, having played an extremely impressive 60 minutes in his first game for the Chiefs. Wiley campaigner Tim Woodward took his place at tight head prop and Ash Hill also came on for another debutant performer in the shape of Kieron Watts who also impressed playing alongside skipper Keen at lock.

Crediton also rang in the changes bringing on ex Devon Prop and now Crediton Coach Wayne Read into the front row. Continued pressure from the visitors saw them creep ever closer to the Totnes line, and from a solid scrum their No 8 crashed over for the simplest of scores, which was converted by the Crediton fly half keeping his 100% kicking record intact.

Totnes battled gamely and when they could wrestle the ball away from the Crediton pack looked dangerous with ball in hand, but all too often they were unable to break out of their own half. Continued dominance in the scrum saw Crediton take another 5 point try with a few minutes remaining in the game, but Totnes Chiefs had down enough to secure a wonderful victory, one which will have the rest of the division taking note of the New Boys from Totnes!

Next week Totnes Chiefs will be looking to continue their success and will be on the road with a long trip down to Falmouth in Cornwall. There will be a coach for players and spectators alike, which will be leaving the clubhouse at 10 am sharp on Saturday morning, everyone welcome.

Team Squad for match.
Back Row L-R: Nigel Jarvis (Fitness Coach) Gareth Harries (Head Coach), Reece Smith, Jerry Hamilton, Callum Browse, Tim Martin, Andy Rive, Kieron Watts, Tim Woodward, Tom Edmonds, Alan Foot (Backs Coach, Mike Edmonds (Vice Chairman)
Front Row L-R: Chris Hooper, Chris Life, Mike Hoorocks, Ash Hill, Dan Janman, Kex Keen (Captain), Alex Smith, Jake Orchard, Stephen Blackie, Jo Fahey (physio) Mark Hooper.