Tavistock Colts 43

Bude Colts 0

TAVISTOCK adapted well to suit heavy conditions at Sandy Park on Saturday.

The forwards ran close off the rucks and mauls and linked with the inside backs who drove up the centre keeping the ball alive and recycling possession. Bude, starved of possession, were unable to put any sustained pressure on the defence and when they did it was via the high kick which was dealt with easily by full back Mark Ewings and wings Graham Steer and Rob Williams.

Mike Knapman, making a welcome return, Iain Johnston and Ben Sutton among the front five kept the pack driving forward. The back row of Ollie Dick, Hamish Pearce-Danker and Paul Dunstan scavenged all the loose ball and as a trio were outstanding.

The first Tavistock try came from some close interplay between backs and forwards and was finished off by flanker Ollie Dick. Tavistock extended their lead before half-time when centre Tom Jefferson scored an individual try.

At half-time Tavistock made a number of changes and continued to dominate scoring five tries in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Hamish Pearce-Danker was the first scorer when his direct run through the heart of the Bude defence was too powerful to be halted. Josh Sutton added the first of his four conversions. Dick then got his second try doing what every good open side flanker should, backing up.

The forwards kept the pressure and John Payne, Adam Gradidge and Louise Addaway made darts for the Bude line. However the defence was only breached again when a great dummy from skipper Josh Sutton allowed Darren Sutton to charge in unopposed.

The best try came from second rower Phil Maloney who, finding himself unexpectedly on the wing, caught a ball on his own 22 metre line and ran 70 metres to score.

The final try came from Will Frapell who although tackled short of the line was able via his momentum to ground the ball.