Tavistock U13s 26

Leamington Spa Touring Side 26

A DRAW could not have been a better set up for the return match in May when Tavistock go on tour to play Leamington Spa.

Both sides played an open game on a hard fast pitch with encouraging support from friends and parents.

In the first half the visitors caught Tavistock napping as they ran in a quick try inside five minutes. Ewan McCall, at inside centre, scored either side of half time from runs deep inside Tavistock territory.

Tavistock trailed at the interval from a well worked forwards? try.

The forwards were rewarded for tireless running from set plays to rucks and mauls to defend and compete for ball, with Lorne Bell ,

Jack Hodges and Tom Hancock spearheading the effort.

In a move that stretched the length of the pitch, Andrew Smerdon, scrum half fed the ball direct to Doug Willatts, who tackled after a 30-metre run was able to recycle it through the forwards charging up in support. Hancock broke free to power past the opposition to touch down close to the posts.

In the last play of the game Ed Smith picked up from loose play quickly passing to Sam Thwaites who forced his way 20 metres to cross the try-line, the try being converted by Andrew Smerdon, as the whistle blew.

Tavistock U10s 25

Exeter Chiefs U10s 10

TAVISTOCK started with renewed enthusiasm after a two-week break. They dominated the first few minutes with a wonderful display of close running and passing play.

Great running from Joshua Leeson helped Mark Friend over the line first but he was deemed to have stepped out. At the lineout Joe Hair won the ball clean and ran round and through the Exeter defences to open the scoring.

Constant good work from Cameron Hogg and George Harold up front allowed scrum half Rhys Dunford to deliver excellent ball to the back resulting in, first Joshua Stephens and a few minutes later Mark Friend scoring tries after faultless delivery from Dunford.

After the interval, the visitors put the Tavistock defence under pressure, forcing some crunching tackling from full back Jack Haigh and fly half Barnaby Frost.

Exeter pulled one back but centre Philip Snell swiftly responded with a blistering solo effort. Tavistock made some changes to blood new signings Rufus Gould and Charlie Hubbard whose first touch from Elliott Northmore led to Elliot Hoyte running in from distance.

The Chiefs continued to put on pressure but only brought the score five points closer.

This Sunday Tavistock travel to Barnstaple.