Honiton v Withycombe
Honiton welcomed sponsors Blackdown Vets for what is usually a fiercely competitive match.
The weather started dry and all the work on the first team pitch saw it looking the best it has for many a year.
Honiton kicked off and were playing down the slope. An early penalty saw the Ton secure a line out and attack the Withycombe try line; the pressure resulted in another penalty and Johnny House knocked it over to give the Ton a 3-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Honiton gave a silly penalty from the kick-off and the Withycombe outside half equalised to bring the score’s lead, 3-3.
Honiton were enjoying the early possession and scored the first try of the game through Ben Spence; this came off a fine break from James Coutts Tucker who returned a Withycombe free kick with interest. The conversion went wide and gave an 8-3 lead.
More indiscipline from Honiton saw another penalty conceded and the away side moved the ball deep into the Honiton twenty-two. The home defence was strong and the penalty saw the threat averted.
There was a bit of a stalemate between the sides and not much happened for the next five minutes.
Honiton had some possession to work and off a scrum the back line cut loose; Ben Kidson was tackled short of the line only for the forwards to keep the ball alive. Pierre Leconte scored under the posts, converted by Johnny House, 15-3.
The lead was further extended a couple of minutes later when Charlie Wright scored another fine solo try swatting away several defenders to score wide right, 20-3.
Withycombe reduced the deficit with another penalty after Honiton drifted offside in front of the kicker. 20-6.
The last few minutes of the second half saw Withycombe pressurise the Ton try line; the defence was resolute but it came at the loss of Josh Rice for 10 minutes for being offside. From the resulting penalty Withycombe elected for a scrum and scored out right as the ball was released; the conversion was missed giving a half-time score of 20-11.
Poor communication at the kick gave Withycombe early possession and territory. They took full advantage and scored under the posts to make the score 20-18 with Honiton still down to 14 men.
Honiton picked their heads up and moved the ball up the slope. Ben Kidson was again stopped short of the line, but a few phases later, Honiton were awarded a penalty, and Johnny House obliged, 23-18.
A fine offload from James Coutts Tucker saw Charlie Wright get his second try of the game wide on the left. An excellent conversion bouncing off the bar saw the lead restored to double figures, 30-18.
The Honiton scrum was looking stronger in the second half, and from the set piece, the ball went through the back line, and Alfie Lang had a half break. The ball was recycled out wide, and Ben Kidson kicked ahead, gathered his own kick, and scored out on the left. 35-18.
The next Honiton try came from substitute Tom Plan e after a turnover forced by Charlie Wright, 40-18.
The home side were now dominating possession, but penalties at the breakdown scuppered two scoring chances as Honiton looked to kill off the game. A turnover from Dean Norman allowed the ball to go wide right, and Rhys Phillips was on hand to finish in the corner. Another difficult conversion drifted wide, 45-18.
Despite being under the cosh for the last twenty minutes, Withycombe got their second try of the half after good work close to the line saw them get over from close range, 45-23.
Another try from Withycombe, again through their forwards, gave a final score of 45-30.