Merit league
Bideford seconds 21
Tavistock seconds 12
BOTH sides served up a good competitive match and the result was in the balance right up until the last few minutes.
Not for the first time Tavistock were slow into their stride, which allowed the strong Bideford forwards to dominate both the set scrums and much of the play in the loose.
The home side took the lead with a penalty after eight minutes. Tavistock found themselves defending for long periods but they refused to buckle and despite enjoying most of the attacking play, Bideford could only add a second penalty goal to lead 6-0 at half-time.
Five minutes into the half, Bideford disrupted a scrum near the Tavistock line and their number eight scored an opportunist try. Four minutes later and more confusion in the Tavistock midfield presented the home team with another scoring opportunity and Tavistock found themselves trailing 18-0. The visitors then started to assert themselves and with the forwards now getting on top in the scrums and making some good gains in the loose play, it was Bideford's turn to do some defending.
After 62 minutes Tavistock pressure brought a try to prop Ed Kivell, who was up in support of a series of drives from the forwards and jinked his way over the line.
Six minutes from time, Tavistock halted a Bideford attack on the edge of their own 22 and a fine counter attack with the ball passing through several pairs of hands, ended with centre Ryan James beating several defenders in a fine run before passing to fullback Ian Gray to put a fine try under the posts. Scrum half Rob Milligan added the conversion, to bring the score to 18-12.
Tavistock were now sensing victory and continued to press but just before the end conceded a penalty and the Bideford fullback kicked the three points. Darren Cole, Ian Gray at fullback, Ryan James, Charlie Harvey and Darren Sutto were prominent for Tavistock.