Tavistock U12s . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Portsmouth U12s . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

TAVISTOCK playing their third touring side of the season met with a strong and determined side from the south coast.

From the start the tourists set out to make their mark, almost producing a score in the opening minutes except for some strong defensive play on the wing by Evans and from full back by James.

Playing with the wind in the first half the solid front row of Matt Smith, James Hill and Aston Robinson kept the pressure on the opposition forcing errors at the set scrummage.

In the line outs Tavistock were totally dominant with O?Neill standing at the front and upsetting all the opposition ball and Leeson winning at ease all the Tavistock throws from the tail.

At scrum half Smerdon moved into his stride.

He started his aggressive running straight at his opposite number, with the next phase easily won by the forwards, the speed and incisive running of Milligan and Thompson started to open the tourists weakness at defence.

In defence Oddie and Warlow started to take out their opposites, not giving any quarter in the hard hitting tackles.

In the second half Tavistock started to open up the game allowing Jon Smith a run on the wing and Eddie Lane to come on as scrum half to increase the pressure on the half backs.

With a short five metre penalty awarded to Tavistock a quick tap ball was taken. O?Neill made the dummy run that allowed James from full back to take the crash ball and score the first try.

From the kick off Tavistock put Portmouth quickly under pressure.

This time the forwards kept the ball tight.

After winning several successive phases started a maul which was driven to the try line and held up. From the back O?Neill appeared and from a metre out was allowed to drive over uncontested from the second try.

James converted this along with the first try.