Western Counties
Tavistock RFC 14
North Petherton 21
BEFORE the game Tavistock felt that this was one of the home games they should win in their fight against relegation from the Western Counties division. Unfortunately the home side suffered a narrow defeat but can take a small amount of comfort that the three teams below them in the league also lost.
After the match joint coach Steve Luffman said that the larger Petherton pack had dominated possession and Tavistock rarely obtained quick second phase ball with which to trouble the visitors.
Petherton took the lead on 20 minutes when after kicking deep into Tavistock territory they won a lineout and Simon Ranson was driven over for the try. The home side responded well taking the game back up the field and from one of the rare quick ball wins Tavistock worked centre Will Brown clear and his footwork saw him score close to the posts. Richard West converted to give Tavistock the lead. However six minutes into first half injury time Petherton took the lead with a penalty goal from Tom Williams.
With the advantage of the slope in the second period Tavistock hoped to pile on the pressure but it was they who were put under pressure with the larger opponents pack dominating possession.
Defending deep in their own territory Tavistock conjured what was probably their best individual score of the season. After winning the ball and moving right centre Danny Luffman received the ball with 70 metres to go. The young centre put his foot on the gas beating the covering defence and scored in the right corner. Richard West added the extras to put Tavistock 14-8 ahead.
Richard Williams got Petherton back into the game with a penalty and shortly after the same player engineered space for Craig Goodwin to score in the corner.