Game of two halfs

==Given the rain deluge during the week it was a slight surprise that Honiton’s league encounter with Withycombe was still on but on it was. Honiton beat Withycombe by a single point in the reverse fixture up at Allhallows so this was always going to be a tough local derby encounter and with conditions exceedingly tough it was clearly going to be a slog in the mud.

The Raleigh park field has a slope and with the wind blowing straight down the field it was always going to be a tough ask for which ever side had to play up the field. Honiton had first use of the conditions but unfortunately it was the home side who were first our of the blocks and they caught Honiton napping when a ball swung wide saw the home sides winger cross for what was to be an critical score.

Honiton settled and given the slope and the wind they then virtually camped them selves in the home sides half. Honiton soon got on the score sheet with an easy penalty right in front of the sticks and it was John Selway who slotted. Honiton scored again and this was after more sustained pressure moved them close and it was skipper Will Goulden who broke from a ruck and ploughed over from short range, again Selway convert. Honiton were on the score sheet again shortly after and following another good passage of play it was player coach Nathan Hannay who made a break for the line through the middle of a ruck. He was hauled down just short but was able to flipped the ball up to Jack Proctor who was on hand to crash over. John Selway knocked over the conversion and Honiton were in front. As the game progressed the pitch cut up even more in the bottom half and handling and frankly just staying up right was a tough ask. Honiton went close again but they didn’t manage any other scores and they turned round 17-5 up.

The question was, “had the Lacemen scored enough points in the first half” because it was clear, the boot would now be on the other foot and it was now Withycombe’s turn to use the slope and wind advantage. Honiton were under pressure from the off and given the conditions it was, as predicted, difficult to get out of defence and if they did, any errors with turn over balls were punished, as the kicks back always put them right back where they come from deep in their own half. On the ten minute mark the defence cracked and the home side scored a converted try to put them with in a score. Honiton battled hard as the conditions got worse and for those watching it was hard to work out who was on whose side and it was really attrition form then on.

On the 30 minute mark a poor clearance kick which was gathered by the seasiders and they raced in for a try which levelled the scores. Honiton then pressed and having got the upper hand in the scrums it looked as if they would hang on but having worked hard to get to the oppositions twenty two a turn over ball was again hoofed right back down into the corner and Honiton were unable to defend the attack and Withycombe scored again to go out in front by 22-17.

Honiton then threw everything at the opposition as time ran out but deft kicks kept pinning them back and the home side clearly knew how to play their pitch and they did enough to record the narrow victory. Despite the conditions it was a good classic local derby and perhaps the difference between the two sides was the fact the home side scored in the first half where as, Honiton were unable to do so when it was their turn to played up the field. Honiton to a man didn’t play badly at all and it was just a couple of defensive errors at the end that did for them and one can’t help wondering , if Honiton had played up the hill in the first half would the result have been different. Coach Hannay work hard through out but it was Josh Rice who was man of the match for winning the tackle count and the hard yards gained.

Next week Honiton have another difficult Cornish trip as the go down to play Lanner who are one of the few sides to have beat Honiton on home territory this season. They will be looking for revenge.

With Honiton’s pitches waterlogged there was no other action at the weekend but Honiton’s Kyle Blackmore played his second game of the weekend as he represented Devon in the under 20’s game against Gloucestershire. Devon came out on top by 21-7 but as with Saturdays encounter it was played in very tricky conditions