For the second week on the trot Honiton were on the road to Cornwall with a difficult trip to Redruth which is the home base of Lanner. After lasts weeks disappointing defeat at Bude Honiton we’re keen to get things back on track.
For both sides conditions were very difficult as the game was very much played in gale plagued conditions which ran up their sloping pitch.
Using the wind advantage Lanner were first on the score sheet with a well struck penalty.
Honiton then got into the game with a great break from Harry Wright he fed Jake Smith who cantered in for a try but with a difficult wind the conversion was missed. The Lacemen added to this with a second when a miss move saw Will Tyers is space and he scored under the posts which Alex Brooks converted. Then things seem to go wrong as a clearly “not” forward pass from Nathan Hannay to Steve Trenchard meant his score was strangely disallowed. To add to that Honiton were again penalised which seemed to be a more and more regular occurrence and Lanner slotted the penalty and just before the break Honiton went behind to a try under the posts from a quick tap penalty.
At the turn Honiton were 13-12 down but with use of the wind there was an air of optimism but increasing as the game progress Honiton struggle with some of the officials decisions and promising attacks were nullified by penalties against them and despite several perfectly good catch and drives from close line outs the ref marched them back. Honiton eventually did score when again Smith crossed for his brace under the post for a converted try. The home were always in the game and with four minutes remaining they were rewarded with a try which was converted for a 20-19 lead and unfortunately they were able to hang on to this lead as the final whistle went.

So for second week on the trot Honiton lost. There was to a man, huge disappointment and condemnation about the match official and whilst it could be seen as sour grapes because the Lacemen lost, a huge penalty count against a normally well disciplined team just didn’t seem to add up. Credit to Honiton they didn’t react to the decisions in fear of being carded but it all seemed very odd.
Clearly this was not the home sides fault and as with last weeks Cornish opposition they did in the second half take the game to Honiton when given the opportunity.

So once again, Honiton will have to lick their wounds and quickly get back in the saddle, ready for the visit of Loo and Liskeard who are a side who have been putting a few results together as the season has progressed
--