Honiton still searching for first win

The quest for a first win of the season continues as Honiton slummed to there 8th league defeat on the trot. Hosting Plymouth based side Old Public Oaks on what was a very muddy pitch, Honiton elected to play against the Allhallows slope for the first half. The first scrum of the day was to set the tone as they march the Lacemen’s pack backwards and this and an effective maul, was hard for Honiton to deal with all afternoon.

The visitors broke the dead lock on ten minutes when they crossed in the corner from a catch and drive from five metres. Despite this Honiton rallied well and started to make in roads and from a good passage of play the ball got moved out to Ben Dobson who stepped on the gas to outpace the defender and dot down out wide to level the score. With tails up Honiton really started to take the game to their visitors and from a patient build up of phases skipper Robert Price crashed over near the uprights for Ollie Cave to convert and this put them in the lead for the first time this season at 12-5. Unfortunately the scrums continued to be Honiton issue and this did present Honiton with problems of getting clean ball and with five minutes to go the visitors rumbled a maul over to finish the half just two points down at 12-10.

Despite this Honiton did have a air of confidence in the half time huddled and with their turn to use the slope advantage, expectation were high. Unfortunately from the kick off a regathered ball by the visitors was spun wide and with Honiton’s defensive line caught napping, they were able to cantered in from long range. Honiton did re group for a while and did make in roads but again a ball spun wide allowed the visitors to score again to put Honiton two scores behind. Honiton kept plugging away but the game just seemed to ebb away form Honiton and with some good clearance work from their ten, any attacks were kicked back. With time running out a further penalty put the final nail in the coffin and yet again the Lacemen were left empty handed going down by 25-12.

To be fair it was a spirited performance and Honiton played their part in a good game in tricky conditions but when you luck is down it’s down. Honiton must continue to work hard and the adage of “the more I practice the luckier I get” must be considered.

Next week its another tough trip away to Paignton who occupy a much higher league position than the Lacemen .