Cullompton Second XV 19

North Tawton 18

NORTH Tawton's team for the first competitive match of the 2008-9 season included a few new faces.

The visitors absorbed some early pressure from Cullompton, and then gained ground through the kicking of fly half North. A good catch and break out by Cullompton's full back Mike Cliff stemmed Tawton's attack and the home side came back into the game. Good tackling by Tawton's Graham Sage and Simon Quick broke up their play and soon it was Tawton back on top.

The scrum was settling well and gaining in confidence, giving scrum half Dave Quick the chance to set up two quick free kick moves as the Cullompton pack were caught off-side. From the second of these a move started by full back Lawrence McKone saw the ball passed neatly down the line to centres Simon Quick and Johnny Grayling to put winger Mike Symons away for the first try in the corner. Rob North converted from well out on the right hand side to give Tawton a lead of 7-0.

Shortly afterwards continuing pressure from Tawton gave them a scrum five metres from the Cullompton try line. Quick movement of the ball by Quick off the back of the scrum again put winger Symons through for his second try. This went unconverted, but Tawton now had a useful lead of 12-0.

A good comeback by Cullompton pushed Tawton back to their 22 metre line where a penalty was conceded. They capitalised on further Tawton errors and from a tap penalty close in Cullompton number eight Steven Knockles broke through for a try, converted by Adam Prouse. The score at the break was 12-7 to North Tawton.

After the break some changes to the Cullompton pack gave them more power and the second half was evenly contested, though Cullompton were starting to gain an edge. It was Tawton who scored first however, when the home side were penalised on their 22 metre line. Rob North slotted the three points for Tawton, but his side were soon under pressure themselves, conceding penalties close to the 22 metre line.

Good defensive play by Tawton, with some excellent tackling by North, Quick and Mike Young, kept the attacks out. Finally the defence cracked and Cullompton centre Dickie McCabe ran in a try after a five metre scrum. The conversion was missed but Cullompton were only three points adrift at 15-12.

North Tawton regained the advantage with another good penalty kick from North from about 25 metres out.

A mix up in the Tawton three-quarters allowed Cullompton centre Mick Stanley to intercept the loose ball and sprint away for a last-minute try.

The conversion by Tom Franklin was critical but he made sure from in front of the posts and Tawton's narrow victory was converted to a loss by one point.

l Next week the league campaign starts with an away fixture at Old Technicians in Plymouth.