Devon 1

Tavistock 1st VX 3

Teignmouth 1st VX 17

TEIGNMOUTH are currently lying second in the league, while Tavistock are near the bottom. Nevertheless, Tavistock beat Teignmouth at home and knew this was an opportunity to gain a stronger league position.

Travelling without several regular backs, this was certain to be a difficult task, but the wet and muddy conditions suited Tavistock's stronger pack.

Tavistock began with the strong wind at their backs and fly-half Martin Credicott kept Teignmouth pinned in their own 22. The Tavistock pack battered the Teignmouth line and they seemed certain to score. Unfortunately, Credicott was substituted after only ten minutes due to injury, and the Moorlanders had lost their only kicker.

Centre Barney Dunstan took over at fly half and kicked Tavistock's only points of the game, but Tavistock were now unable to use the wind to the best advantage.

The conditions were extreme, the pitch was turned into a quagmire in seconds and there was a cold wind and driving rain throughout. These conditions dictated the tactics of both sides — Tavistock kept the ball in the pack, rucking well and using the rolling maul effectively to gain territory.

They failed to cross the Teignmouth line, however, while Teignmouth ran in two breakaway tries with the little possession that they had, providing Tavistock with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Teignmouth's tactics in the second half were clear from the outset: to punt high balls into Tavistock's 22, keeping them on the back foot and having to contend with a swirling wind and the ball stopping dead in sitting water.

Due to absence in the backs, winger Simon Beatty was covering at full back and coped well under a barrage of high balls.

But Tavistock were unable to run the ball out of their own half, despite strong running from Dunstan, Matt Cole and Robin Weldon.

This was a bruising half for both sides, with Tavistock being forced to defend continuously.

Teignmouth eventually broke through for their third and final try and the game was beyond reach for Tavistock.

This week Tavistock are due to entertain Bude at home in a friendly fixture.