Honiton seconds entertained Teignmouth on Saturday and Sports fans flocked to Allhallows, eagerly anticipating a slobberknocker of a game to kick off the Christmas festivities.

Being the season of goodwill, Honiton allowed their guests to race into an early 0-8 lead.

The deficit was cut when wrecking ball James Fernandes pounced on a loose ball and battered his way over to bring the home crowd to their feet!

Teignmouth responded with a penalty and a converted try to take a 5-18 lead but when Charlie Wright found a gap on the blind side and sat the covering defender down before scoring out wide, the half time gap was cut to just 8 points.

Playing down the Allhallows slope in the second half, Honiton got off to a bad start when Teignmouth scored an early try to take a 10-25 lead.

Spurred into action Honiton reduced the arrears through an Enticott penalty.

This was quickly followed by Charlie Wright’s second of the day which Enticott converted to make it 20-25.

Honiton’s forwards were rampaging down the hill with good carries from Tom White and local celebrity Louie Lane, surely a shoe in for the big job when Santa finally retires!

Charlie Leisk then powered his way over and when Enticott added the extras the ton were ahead for the first time.

The home fans were then given a real Christmas treat when radio personality and bouncy castle magnate Churchy, staggered over the whitewash following another strong run from Wright.

The big boned boys then rumbled a scrum over the line to allow Wright to complete his jug earning hat trick to put the home side 12 points clear with 10 to play.

Teignmouth threw caution to the wind in an attempt to chase the game and were rewarded with a try and conversion to make it a nervy last 5 minutes.

Not content with 1 jug, Wright was yellow carded for a high tackle meaning Honiton had to see the game out with 14 men.

Just when it looked Honiton would hang on, Teignmouth managed to find space out wide to level the scores and their kicker managed to nail the conversion with the last kick of the game to break Honiton hearts.

Honiton will rue a slow start and like Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle failing to hold on to a 12 point lead, however there were some festive treats for the fans to enjoy over the Christmas break.

The sight of White, Leisk and Fernandes feasting on raw meat at scrum time was a thing of beauty, a hat trick from the returning Charlie Wright showed what a prospect he could be and Phil (the Chiropractor) Bennett knocking the stuffing out of attackers had the raucous crowd salivating!

Hopefully Santa will bring the team some kicking boots for the new year.