Tavistock Colts 10

Exeter Chiefs Colts 12

TAVISTOCK will look back on this match staring at wasted points at the beginning of their new league. Tavistock who have ambitions of a strong finish let the Chiefs have too much control all over the park.

Chiefs penned Tavistock into their own 22 early on and the away side really tested the Tavistock defence, strong tackles from players especially Jack Glover meant the away side could not take advantage of possession.

Tavistock finally started to find their feet in the game and a tidy lineout allowed the backs some room to work with strong runs by centres Connor and Burdfield finally gave the Moorlanders some room to work with.

However an unfortunate turnover led to the injury of influential Glover who was unable to continue. Chiefs now took advantage in the game. Strong runs round the fringes by the larger pack allowed them to send the fullback into space who finished well. The conversion was missed.  

Tavistock now knew they needed to get something from the first half and a fortunate mistake by Chiefs led to Connor using great footballing skills to tumble over and even things up.

Tavistock came out for the second half with confidence playing downhill, however poor decision making kept the Moorlanders out. Both teams then found players in the sin bin after poor discipline, unaided by slippy conditions under foot. However it was not until the last 15 minutes that there was any further score.

Tavistock who now had a man advantage, maintained continuous pressure which led to Budden returning the ball at pace good offloading by the Tavistock pack led to Hockin crashing over to put the home side in the lead.

With the clock ticking away the home side were unable to finish the game off while Exeter had found a last surge of energy to work their way towards the home side's try line. More penalties against Tavistock meant they were unable to clear their lines. With the last play of the game, Chiefs scored what turned out to be the winning try after a dubious tumble over the line by the Exeter pack. With all eyes on him the Exeter kicker kept his nerve to give the away side the win.

Tavistock head to Teignmouth next weekend to try and make amends for a poor day at the office.