Western Counties West
Wellington 30, Crediton 18

WELLINGTON put themselves slap bang in the middle of the Western Counties West title race by beating league leaders Crediton in Saturday's rearranged fixture, writes Allyn Chetland.

It was third time lucky for the Red & Blacks, after the match twice fell foul of bad weather, and the hosts named an unchanged starting line-up from the previous weekend's win over Truro.

With the substantial wind at their backs in the first half, the hosts started well at the Athletic Ground and were soon camped in Crediton's half.

They were denied an early try when the referee spotted a knock-on, and they were held up over the try-line soon after.

Undeterred, the R&Bs kept going, and their efforts were rewarded when impressive No 8 Cam Venn powered over for an unconverted try.

Against the run of play, Crediton caught the home side napping on the blind side of a ruck, to score a converted try and take the lead.

Stung by this setback, the R&Bs hit back through second row Martin Walker, who crashed over for his first senior try following a series of rucks on the line, though the conversion attempt again went wide.

But it was 10-10 at half-time, after the hosts infringed at a ruck and the penalty sailed between the posts.

With the scores level and the wind behind them, Credition may well have thought the game was there for the taking in the second half.

But the R&Bs had other ideas, producing one of their best 40 minutes of the season, thoroughly dominating territory and possession.

Captain Paddy Jarman opened the scoring in the second half with a superb dummy and break to cross for an unconverted try, though the visitors kept in touch with a wind-assisted penalty from range.

Those three points were cancelled out by Wellington full-back Alex Davey, from in front of the posts, and the R&Bs began to get a grip on proceedings to deny Crediton any meaningful possession.

This vice-like grip was further strengthened when hard-running winger Rob Hooper crashed over for a well-worked try to extend the lead.

Further pressure saw Chris Kitto emerge from a pile of bodies, following an outstanding 35-metre driving maul, to claim a try which was converted by Davey to extend the advantage to 30-13.

Crediton eventually got their hands on the ball in the dying minutes of the game and got their second try with the last play of the game.

Wellington squad: J Richards, J Dyke, R Marke, R Walker, C Kitto, M Walker, L Phillips, C Venn, D Goldstone, P Jarman (c), T Hart, V Gordon, G Hodgson, R Hooper, A Davey, D Lee, O Price, N Pitman.

This was an outstanding performance and well-deserved victory for Wellington, with the second-half performance being of particular note.

With fellow title contenders Sidmouth losing at Winscombe, Wellington are up to second on 83 points – one point behind Crediton, level with Sidmouth and three points ahead of fourth-placed St Austell.

All of the teams have four games remaining, and this coming Saturday sees Wellington go to Cornwall to take on Wadebridge Camels.

The R&Bs won the reverse fixture in convincing fashion, but after a slow start to the season, the Camels have put together an impressive run of victories to move into fifth place.