Honiton play their “get out of jail free” card in narrow victory down Cornwall!

Trips to play games in Cornwall are never an easy prospect and Saturday’s game against Looe and Liskeard was on paper a potential banana skin. Added to this tough ask, Honiton also had several enforced changes in personnel and the torrential rain for the hour before kick off meant Honiton’s “out wide” main attacking weapon would be difficult to implement. There was in fact, a serious doubt as to whether it was going to be playable.

Playing with the slope advantage and the gale and rain behind then Honiton had the early advantage and really they spent most of the half in the opposition’s territory. An early easy penalty chance was missed and unfortunately that was the case for the rest of the half as three other kickable penalties went just wide by the usually reliable boot of Channing. To be fair to the kickers and those trying to handle the ball, conditions were tough and neither side were able to string any real passages of play together. Honiton’s cause was helped with a sin binning of one of the home side who having thrown a clear punch was lucky not to have had his full marching orders and despite this 10 minute advantage, the half finished in an uninspiring 0-0 score line.

With Honiton’s turn to face the difficult elements things really didn’t look good for the visitors and Honiton were in serious trouble and looking at their first defeat in Cornwall. The error strewn game continued with neither side getting any traction or phases of play and really it was anything but enjoyable to watch. There was another advantage to Honiton when the home side lost another man for 10 minutes for foul play but they could not capitalise on it this and they eventually succumbed to the inevitable and gave away a kickable penalty that the home side slotted to go 3 up.

Despite the task ahead Honiton dug deep and on a rare occasion when they broke out of their half they did manage to control the ball and from this sustained pressure they batter the home defence and after several drives, number 8 Josh Rice broke away and from close range he ran in under the sticks which allowed Ollie Cave to kick the pressure goal.

With ten minutes to go it was then all the Cornishmen as they battered the home sides defence and it was backs to the wall as the clock counted down. Honiton just managed to hang on despite several try line defensive scrambles and when the final whistle went there was nothing but huge relief all round.

I’m afraid this was not pretty to watch and really if honest Honiton played their “get out of jail” card on this one as they didn’t seem to get out of first gear all day. Still, a win is a win and Honiton rode their luck to remain undefeated in Cornwall. With six games left in the league they remain in top spot, in a league that will go to the wire!