Falmouth Chiefs rattle high-flying Crediton (From This is The West Country)

Falmouth Chiefs rattle high-flying Crediton

4:26pm Tuesday 5th January 2010 in Cornwall Sport

THE Falmouth Chiefs gave one of their best displays of the season, just failing to reap what should have been a deserved shock result over the high-flying Credition.

The Devonian’s rugby guru and former chairman, Paul Harris, paid tribute to Falmouth’s vastly improved team performance from previous seasons and said his team were very lucky to have extended their winning run to 11 games.

Falmouth had most of the territory in both halves, but just couldn’t find the breakthrough against their opponents who sit second in the Cornwall and Devon League table.

Games are won and lost in moments of hesitancy, impetuosity and that lack of a magic moment and this was certainly the case for Falmouth on Saturday.

The Chiefs were well served by locks Chris McColl, Matt Stephens, Steve Instance and frustrated coach David Rule was pleased with his man-of-the-match, prop Ashley Searle and wing Dan Benson who did all but score on three occasions.

Both teams packs were even and it was only in the backs that Crediton had a slight edge.

Falmouth attacked from the start, but it was the visitors who took the lead when they counter-attacked down the right wing - Matt Shapland eventually taking the ball over the Falmouth line.

Falmouth pressed forward again and were rewarded with a penalty on the half-hour, which Matt Horton kicked over to narrow the gap to just two points. This score was Falmouth’s first against Crediton in the last five meetings.

It was to get better for the home team though as just before the interval they snatched the lead. It came from a catch-and-drive move which saw prop Andy Palmer go over.

However, the scores were level moments later as Crediton’s fly-half Dan Howard landed a penalty against the run of play. Falmouth began the second half well but following a poor home pass, Crediton seized possession, and the match, with a break-away try. The visitors grabbed the loose ball on the hour before darting up field for centre Mike Pearce to cross.

The last quarter saw Falmouth push for a way back into the game, but they couldn’t find their way past a rock solid Crediton defence.

On Saturday the Chiefs and A15 are away to Saltash. The Colts are at home to St Austell.