Lacemen dish out another stuffing

Busy, tiring but very successful weekend at the Allhallows by Nick Guilbert

Honiton rugby club had a very busy weekend of rugby at All hallows and to make it an enjoyable two days the weather joined in as well.

On Saturday morning the Junior section was out in force and they pulled out all the stops to host a tournament which included all of the junior teams playing games against Launceston Juniors who were starting their Easter tour and Welch outfit Rhigos who were also on tour. With Tiverton supplying a team as well I have to be honest and say I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people on Allhallows at once and it was all a very positive advert for junior rugby.

Then if that wasn’t enough the firsts and seconds took to the field in the afternoon in front of two large crowds.

Honiton firsts entertained Stithians in their final home league game of the campaign and on the back of eight straight win in the league the Lacemen were in no mood to be charitable especial given the fact the scores had been close in the away fixture. Honiton did win it but only just.

The visitors first few minutes were their best and really that’s about all you can say about them in a positive way. As soon as Honiton settled down there was an early score for influential flanker Dean Norman who finished off a very positive move that had gone through several sets of hands and moments later Rice Junior got the second with a chip and gather and really these scores just opened the flood gates as Honiton raced to a 41-0 halftime score line.

The second half was then just exhibition rugby with Honiton in total control of every facet of play and as the onslaught went on the oppositions heads dropped further and further, so much so that with 13 minutes still on the clock the referee decided enough was enough and he called an early halt to put the opposition out of their misery.
The final score was 82-0 to the Lacemen. Apart from a Norman brace of tries all the other points came from the back division who appear to get sharper by the week. Luke Kenny and Chris Sampson helped them selves to a hatrick of tries with Josh Barrett Andy Canniford, Dan Garman and Ollie Hyland all dotting down as well. Canniford rounded of a good performance as the number ten with a penalty and 7 conversions.

It would be unfair to mention individual players but this was truly an all round unselfish team performance and we must remember for the backs to score “at will”, you need a good platform from the forwards and they delivered the service on a plate to ensure the rout.