Avery-wright kicks for the win in tight match

OLLIE Avery-wright thumped over a stoppage-time penalty from the halfway line to earn Crediton a dramatic 22-21 win at Teignmouth.

The Teigns led for most of the second half and thought they had done enough to win it 21-19 when the referee called ‘last play’ three minutes into time added on.

Then Crediton won a penalty just inside the Teignmouth half and Avery-wright pointed at the posts.

It was a great kick. Avery-wright was only just in the same postcode as the uprights, but the ball sailed through to give Crediton the narrowest of wins.

Stuart Lowe, the Crediton coach, expressed mixed feelings after the match about the manner and size of the win.

“It was a good game of rugby played in difficult conditions and on a heavy pitch against a side that is well drilled, well coached with some talented players and always hard to play against,” said Lowe. “We were really pleased with some of the rugby played – and the outcome – having made 10 changes from the previous game and with a number stepping up from the second team. We gifted Teignmouth two tries through our mistakes though.”

On their first visit Crediton 22 the home side took the lead with winger Jack Bond’s seventh try of the season.

Crediton soon showed the pedigree that has kept them in the South West Two top three for the past two seasons by opening up a 12-point lead with tries from winger Bobby Jenkins and centre Josh Goodman, both of which were converted by Avery-wright.

By half-time Teignmouth were back in front thanks to a try from Will Sowden, who ran on to a skilfully placed kick from Faolan Lidstone, plus the conversion and a penalty from Jack Mayne.

After the break, Goldman scored his second try in between two Mayne penalties. But the last quarter of an hour saw constant pressure from the visitors.

Mayne’s second penalty set-up a tense final 15 minutes as the Teigns defended a two-point lead. Just when it seemed they had done enough, Avery-wright won it for Crediton.

Crediton are at home to Topsham this Saturday in an eagerly awaited third-against-second tussle that should decide who finishes as runners-up behind champs Sidmouth, whose 44-13 win over Cullompton clinched the Two South West title and the promotion that goes with it.