By Perkin Warbeck

Saturday saw Honiton travel to Mid Devon to play the new boys in the division South Moulton. With a fine win against the leaders last week it was important to get feet back on the ground quickly as South Moulton have a pretty good home record and from winning everything put before them last season, it was on paper, anything but an easy away fixture.

The Mid Devon side's pitch does appear to be a little smaller than most and with a fair old amount of rain during the week and a drizzle day thrown in, it was going to be heavy going with handling errors.

Despite this Honiton started well and right from the kick off were awarded a penalty that was kicked down field and from the ensuing line out Honiton had a series of pick and goes and did get over the line only to be adjudged as held up. This meant it was a five metre scrum and Honiton with the put in, were unusually pushed back but they managed to keep possession and Nathan Hannay (sponsored by B!fitness)managed to force his way over for an early score which Jake Smith (sponsored by Will Mayers construction) converted.
The mid Devon side were also on the score sheet early when moments later an off side decision in front of the posts was converted. Honiton had to soak up a lot of pressure and Mounton's heavy pack were hard to contain especially at scrum time but the visitors were patient whilst defending and they also cleared their lines well to gain territory.
From a line out and a good series of pick and goes they made yards and from a good driving maul, Harry Wright (Sponsored by John "the beard Pearce) crashed over from short range for Honiton's second score. Smith converted. Despite the struggle in the scrums Honiton were dominant in the line outs and again from a steal they ere able to work up the field and with the home sides defence struggling to stop the drives another penalty was conceded and Smith knocked it over to keep the score board ticking along
Moulton were kept in the hunt with an other penalty and it what was a tough half, Honiton came through it well and were 17-6 ahead at the break.

Honiton with the luxury of being able to made a few tactical changes and got off to a good start when Smith added another penalty after a cheap shot late tackle on fly half Alex Brooks(sponsored by Tracey Brooks) . A good break from player coach Hannay made good yards and open side Josh Rice (sponsored by Ultim8Construction) was on hand to dot down near the posts for Honiton's third try . Despite the score mounting up against Moulton they did keep trying to punch holes but it was resolute defence from the Lacemen that kept them at bay and they were often seen wondering what else they could do to gain ground.
Having weather another storm a fielded clearance found Smith in space, he made yards and off loaded to Ollie Cave (sponsored by Axminster dental practice) who dotted down the bonus point try score. There was a bone shuddering tackle made by Josh Rice that made the crowd wince and the spilled ball was quickly worked up field and Will Tyers (sponsored by Robert J Tyers ltd) then scored a great individual wingers try, as he jinked his way over the line. Wright got his brace again after another period of stout defence and a patient build up from the Ton .
Despite the score, South Moulton were rewarded with a consultation try but ended up well beaten by 44-11.

For Honiton this was defiantly a stern test, which they passed with flying colours and it was a very mature, measured performance against a good, if a little one dimensional, lumpy side. The Ton were very efficient in attack and on entering the oppositions twenty two always seemed to come away with a score and several of their tries came form patient build ups and several phases of play.
It's fair to say in the scrums Honiton struggled against what was a very big front five but the home side seemed to be very narrow in attack, relying on their big guys to punch holes and whilst you can see this working against other sides, especially as grounds get wetter unfortunately for them, this is bread and butter for the Ton who have a very aggressive defensive line and these attacks were often nullified with the home side clearly wondering what else they could do having no plan B.
So all in all this was yet another very competent team performance and as a squad they are working well. Philip Cooke (sponsored by Giles Bamberger Plant hire) was picked as the man of the match for his hard work through out.

--