Honiton v Falmouth

Honiton’s kick off was delayed for an hour and a half as there was a mix up with the refs and a suitable substitute needed to be found and a big thanks to him.

When the game did get going it was clear it would be a much tougher encounter than last week as the Falmouth forwards were a lot more organised and very much on the large side. Despite this Honiton started brightly and were unfortunate not to score early on up the left hand side. Despite this early miss an impressive scrum and good drive off it from eight Rice saw quick recycled ball spun across the backs and good hands from Channing, Sampson Cheesy and Rice Junior put winger Ben Webber in out wide. The difficult kick was missed but moments later Channing made up for it with a booming long range penalty which put Honiton eight up. The remainder of the half was nip and tuck through out with some ferocious encounters at the breakdown. To be fair in the first half Honiton clearly looked the sharper in the backs where as the forward battle was more even stevens. Not out of it by any means though, Falmouth came back into the game with an unconverted scored dotted down by their bullocking number eight and at the break there was just three in it at 8-5 to the Lacemen.

The second half was when Honiton changed gear and playing with the slope advantage the second half was really all Honiton. Steve Nex got the first try when he caught their 9 napping at the back of a scrum. Channing converted. This then opened the flood gates with impressive rucking produced good ball and with the defence more concerned in fighting with Deno, Glen Channing dotted down and converted his score. “Cheers number eight” was the touch lines chant as it was his gap Channing went through and basically Deno took one for the team! Honiton are really playing well at the moment and the forwards wore down the opposition and then got on top and their fitness really is evident as they constantly had more men at the break down. Channing got his second try of the game with another robust number eight style break as he crashed over again. Then straight from the kick off Rice snr made inroads from his 10 yard line 10 feed Nex who slipped an inside ball to Cheesy who in turn fed Smally he made the decisive break but was hauled down just short but Honiton’s fitter players recycled quick ball and neat hands from Rice Jnr fed prop Chris Huskins who did well to get where he was for the try of the game. Falmouth tried to rally and were rewarded with a scored but this was but a consolation as Deno Norman was fed an inside pass form his coach for an easy tough down. But as we say… just doing his job following the ball all game. Webber knocked over the conversion.

This was an impressive 41-12 victory more so than last weeks trouncing as the opposition were better. The front row of Chester Huskins and Dalton really had to work hard against some big boys . The second row of Hannay Guilbert and later Findlay were fit and all over the place despite having to do their job in the row. The Back row trio of Fahy, Deno and Josh Rice complement each other well and they made some big tackles and are basically always there at the break downs!
Channing had another impressive game at 10 controlling what are some lively quick attacking backs.
Smally hits are also worth a mention as the crowd winced ever time the Falmoth player took the high ball!
One word though lets get the line out sorted!
But all in all Honiton are really playing some good rugby as the season draws to a close and that make it 7 on the bounce for the lacemen!