Honiton lose triple header in the mud.

Honiton made the short journey to play old rivals Exeter Saracens and just to add spice this was to be a triple header game. Firstly it was a league game but doubled up with a cup game to progress to the next round and finally both sides always play for the traditional Paddy Thompson trophy when ever they meet.
Honiton arrived to the depressing site of groups of people armed with forks and spades trying to clear puddles and filling them with sand so it was obvious it was going to be a slog in the mud and it was.
Early encounters were fairly even as the pitch started to cut up and it was clear it would be a close game. Sarries broke the dead lock when a wayward defensive kick was gathered well and with space the quick wingman skinned the Honiton defence to dot down out wide. This seemed to galvanise the Lacemen and with several takes against the head in the tight Honiton started to get back on top and they would count themselves unlucky as a clear “legal” touch down by prop Robbie Harrison was disallowed. His remonstrations were, as is the case in rugby, rewarded by a march back of an extra ten metres. Honiton kept up the pressure though and went close on a further two occasions and with time running out in the first half a good brake by Josh Rice found Jason Hannay who cutting a good line to crashed over near the uprights. Webber knocked over the extras for a fair halftime lead of 5-7.
With the pitch now in tatters and a slight difficulty in telling who was on whose side the second half was always going to be a big slog in the mud. The home side broke a twenty minute deadlock to score out wide. Honiton came back strongly but some times as is the way, Honiton didn’t get any luck and as is the way fortune plays it’s part and a clear knock on was missed by the ref and this allowed the home side to sweep up the field and score again and with the extras easily kicked Honiton were down and out at 17-7. They did though keep going and had the lions share of possession in the final 10 minutes and had they been a little more patient when camped in the home sides twenty two, they should surely have scored. As it was, time ran out and the home side were deserved winners in difficult conditions and of course they took the three results!
For Honiton a big disappointment but they were just not patient enough in their build up of phases and throw in a few wrong options and the understandable handing errors it does leave room for improvement. On a good point though the tackle count was huge and young Harry Wright as an eight is growing with each performance. Honiton’s man of the match went to the hard working and reliable Robert Price, who’s tackle count lead the way for the Lacemen.
So it’s played ten won five which leaves Honiton mid table but with three difficult fixtures coming up it’s going to be a tough old lead up to the Christmas break