Crediton coach Lowe hails ‘incredible attack’
CREDITON went back up to second in Two South West after defeating Topsham 56-41.
Topsham had started round 21 of 22 in second place and were looking to secure it for themselves at the end of their first season at this level.
At the end of a ding-dong first half Crediton were only 28-22 ahead – and had come from behind to get there!
Crediton crept ahead in the second half, but only made the game totally safe eight minutes from time when they opened-up a 15-point lead.
Stuart Lowe, the Crediton coach, said the result was partly down to doing homework on the opposition.
“Topsham are the top attacking team in the division so we analysed areas we could target,” said Lowe.
“At times our attack was incredible and we worked many situations to score outstanding tries.
“Saying that the most pleasing try for me is always a driving maul try from the 22.
“To score 56 points against a team that started the day one place above us was pleasing.”
Something else that pleased Lowe was making six changes to the side and still emerging victorious.
Crediton hit the ground running with three tries in the opening 14 minutes shared between Ben Wonnacott, James Dodge and Ollie Avery-wright, who converted them all.
“We started well, scoring three tries, but gifted Topsham two scores from basic errors at the restarts,” said Lowe. Two of our players were sinbinned in the first half and Topsham took advantage to score.”
Harry Strong scored Crediton’s bonus-point try a minute before half time.
Ross Bovingdon, Topsham’s playing chief and front-row stalwart, said his side were also affected by a sinbinning. “We lost Lewis Webb in the first minute and while he was off Crediton took a 14-0 lead through some poor one-on-one tackling,” said Bovingdon.
“And we were hit with two dropouts on match-day morning, which played a part.
“We sorted ourselves out and were 22-21 up just before half time when Crediton scored an interception try.”
Two more tries in the 10 minutes immediately after half time – one each for Josh Hall and Sam Westcott, both converted by Avery-wright – put Crediton in the driving seat.
Topsham did score three tries in the second half, two of them converted, but Crediton scores by Will Crang and Tom Mortimer ensured there was no prospect of a comeback.