ONCE more Tavistock RFC Colts' end of season tour took them to Holland where they conquered both Dutch and Belgian sides in entertaining fashion. After travelling overnight to their base in De Katjeskelder they opened the tour on the Friday evening with a match against Pink Panthers RFC from Driebergen-Rijsenburg, who were superb hosts both before and after the match.
The opposition put up a stern defence but had no answer to Tavistock's pace and movement as they ran in 13 tries with Dan Cunningham claiming five of them. Other scorers were Jack Bond, Niall Murphy, Mark Friend, Joe Gosling, Ed Longden, George Rogers and Tom Rickard as Tavistock ran out winners by 73 points to nil.
The second day of the tour was a rest day which was spent at Efteling Theme Park where much fun was had by both players, coaches and travelling parents. On the Sunday, Tavistock were hosted by Breda RFC who also invited Belgian side Laakdal RFC. In superb conditions and on a hard pitch, Tavistock's opening match was against the visitors from Belgium. Early possession enabled Josh Leeson to go in for the first try and another soon followed from Robin Jones.
This stirred the opposition into action and they repelled several attacks with some excellent tackling before Niall Murphy's quick tap penalty allowed him to go in for a score. Tavistock ended the half with Tom Rickard going in at the corner after a sliced clearance was gathered and fed out wide.
The second half saw Laakdal pin Tavistock back in their own twenty two and after a series of scrum's, they drove over for a well deserved try. Tavistock were finding it difficult to retain possession, but a turnover on halfway enabled Dan Oner to break away for a try. Jack Miller completed the scoring with a try in the corner as Tavistock ran out winners by 34 points to 5.
After lunch and a rest, Tavistock took on the hosts, Breda RFC. The home side were proving difficult opposition but eventually Tavistock crossed the line as Dan Oner broke off the back of a five metre scrum to go over. From the restart, Tavistock possession enabled Jack Bond to use his pace to outsprint the defence and go in at the corner. The next score came from Robin Jones who ripped out the ball and dropped over at a maul on the opposition line.
The second half opened with the ball being fed across to Joe Gosling who went in for a try and another soon followed as Tom Thursby went over following a five metre scrum. The home side were finding Tavistock's pace and movement difficult to deal with but never gave up and only excellent defending kept them out. With the home players tiring, Niall Murphy went in at the corner before a break and battering run by Joel Blatchford saw him cross the line for his first Tavistock try which unfortunately saw him injured in the process.
The final try came from Rufus Gould as Tavistock kept a clean sheet for the second time on tour running out winners by 41 points to nil.
The day was a great success and Breda RFC were excellent hosts and opposition along with Laakdal RFC.