Devon

Intermediate Cup

Ivybridge 29

Ivybridge's day got off to the worst possible start when it was discovered their coach had been pulled over by the police, leading to a delayed arrival to pick up the players.

As a result, the coaches and players only arrived at the ground with 45 minutes to go until kick-off, resulting in a hasty warm-up. This might have had something to do with Ivybridge's slow start as, despite dominating possession and territory, it was Crediton, operating a league below the visitors, who opened the scoring. Crediton's former Plymouth Albion star Mark Lee had a cracking game for the home side, and he was left to slot a conversion with barely ten minutes gone after a neat inside pass released their centre to go over.

A Matt Grieveson drop goal briefly narrowed the gap seven minutes later, only for Ivy to concede a penalty almost straight away to re-establish the seven-point difference.

Crediton were defending as if their lives depended on it and kept Ivybridge to just three points until six minutes before half-time, when centre Adam Bradley sent flying winger George deMendonca over in the corner for an unconverted try.

This brought Ivybridge to within two points of Cred, but the plucky home side, roared on by their supporters, sent a rolling maul over Ivybridge's line for their number eight to touch down.

Lee was desperately unlucky to hit the post with his conversion attempt, meaning Cred once more were a converted try ahead. In the half that had everything, however, there was just time for one last act when full-back Tom Scoles gathered Grieveson's cute chip over the top for another unconverted try and a 15-13 half-time score.

If Ivybridge thought they had killed off Crediton with the try late in the half, the home side had different ideas, once again breaching the Ivybridge line from a turnover after withstanding yet more Ivybridge pressure. The conversion from wide out was missed to give Cred a seven-point lead yet again.

The Green and Blacks continued to be aggressive going forward, and Crediton were soon penalised for some unwarranted aggression of their own, a high tackle allowing Grieveson to make it 20-16. This was the start of the most rewarding passage of play for Ivy, with tries from hooker Jay Gerraty, finishing off a good move, then replacement full-back Hayden Coles just reward for the team's effort. Both tries were unconverted.

In between, it looked as if Crediton had shot their last bolt when their centre was yellow-carded. But Crediton on the day were truly a side who didn't know they were beaten, and they came storming back to score a converted try from another rolling maul with minutes left on the clock. With a one-point lead to defend, Crediton had their hearts broken and their brave resistance ended when Grieveson showed nerves of steel to slot the trophy-winning penalty to the delight of the visitors' supporters.

This was a brilliant game which Ivybridge deserved to win, but credit must be given to Crediton for an impassioned performance that belied their league standing.