Devon 2 League Tamar Saracens 27 North Tawton 8 NORTH Tawton fielded a team with a modified line up against league rivals Tamar Saracens. Early in the first half it was from a line-out that flanker Phil Elkins broke away and caught Tamar Saracens? defenders offside. The resulting penalty was well struck by full back Tom Davis from about 30 metres to give Tawton a welcome early score. Tamar Saracens mounted a good attack driving Tawton back to their 10 metre line, but the tackling was secure and the drive was halted. Tawton were then penalised for an offside in front of their posts and the Saracens? fly half was able to level the score with a penalty kick. Breaking off the back of a scrum on the Saracens? 22 metre line Steve King led a mauling drive to the line, but Tawton were penalised, letting the Plymouth side off the hook. Saracens came back strongly and their flanker went in for the first try, converted by the fly half. Within a few minutes another score for Saracens, this time by their hooker, was also converted. Although Saracens had the better part of the territorial game they were repeatedly thwarted by the good play of Tawton?s forwards. Both sides had missed penalty attempts and the score remained at 17-3 at half time. From the start of the second half Tawton penetrated the Saracens? half as the home side repeatedly infringed and were penalised. From the last of a series of penalty line-outs a break by Tawton?s prop Phil Moses drove play to the Saracens? 5 metre line were a further penalty brought a warning from the referee of an impending yellow card. A good decision to take the penalty scrum nearly bore fruit as flanker Elkins scrambled over to touch down, unfortunately unseen by the ref who was busy with further penalising...but no yellow card. Tawton were not to be denied, however, and another short range scrum gave Steve King the chance to feed to Martin Friggens working down the blind side and the ball was slipped out to Hooper on the right touchline, who went over for a well deserved try. The conversion from distance was missed and the score remained 17 - 8 to Saracens. Mistakes were creeping into North Tawton?s game. A Saracens scrum gave them the break they had been working for as they broke through the defenders to score their third try. An injury to Tawton?s hard-working prop Phil Moses needed hospital treatment, which brought on Adam Davis. Despite continued efforts from the visiting team, Tamar Saracens were able to score a final, unconverted try, giving a final score of 27-3 to the home side. Despite a run of disappointing results, North Tawton were still full of spirit and determination. This week they play the other Saracens, in Exeter.
