St Mary’s Old Boys

Honiton received the kick off and were awarded a penalty at the first break down allowing them to clear in to the opposition half. This was followed by another penalty which saw Honiton move in to the opposition twenty two and a third successive penalty for offside gave Ben Phillips a penalty shot which was successful. 3-0 lead after six minutes.
The first scrum of the game didn’t go well for the Ton and the scrum wheeled twice before they got ball.
The Old Boys were awarded a penalty and they kicked for touch to the middle of the Honiton twenty two for their first line out, this came to nothing but a further penalty saw the old boys have a penalty shot of their own, this was successful levelling the score at three apiece.
The next ten minutes saw a bit of a stalemate in the Honiton half with both sides frustrated by the official who was enforcing the laws of the game with extreme efficiency. This saw the away side reduced to fourteen after one of their forwards voiced his frustration to the ref and given a ten minute rest.
Josh Rice was proving a thorn in the side of the old boys when he stole a second line out from them, unfortunately they couldn’t capitalise and play resumed in the Honiton half.
The first try of the game came from the away side when their dangerous backs moved the ball out wide to beat the home defence, converted 3-10 ten minutes before half time.
More unwanted advice given to the referee by an Old Boys player saw a second yellow card given to their 14.
Another shot at goal from the half way line saw the away side extend their lead to 3-13 with last action of the first half.
The second half didn’t start well for the Ton when Dani Jenkins was given a yellow card for a high tackle.
Still down to fourteen men the Old Boys had another penalty kick but this went wide. Unfortunately from the kick off the sharp away side backs showed good pace and handling to score their second try wide on the right, conversion missed 3-18.
Honiton finally got decent territory and from a second tapped penalty from short range Rob Price forced his way over, conversion by Ben Phillips 10-18.
The Old Boys added another penalty to extend their lead to 10-21.
Honiton responded positively and thought they had got a second try under the posts but Jack Madge was judged to have been held up by the referee.
From the scrum the second phase saw Ben Phillips crash over unfortunately he could convert his own try 15-21.
An interception by skipper Johnny House saw him score under the posts, Ben Phillips converted and the lead changed hands 22-21.
This was followed by their second try when Rhys Phillips out paced the away defence wide left. The conversion was missed 27-21.
the final few minutes were very tense with Honiton pinned on their own line but the defence held strong and worked their way down field to hold on and get another national final.