Devon two league North Tawton first XV 21 Salcombe first XV 21 THIS was an excellent result for North Tawton against a Salcombe team unbeaten in the league this season. Early penalties against Salcombe gave North Tawton the chance of a good start and after six minutes David Fewings slotted a kick from about 30 metres to set the scoreboard rolling. Shortly afterwards it was Salcombe who had their chance as Tawton were penalised for holding on in the tackle, but fly half Mark Lidstone pushed his attempt wide. Salcombe were penalised for crossing as they set up an attack just outside the Tawton half but this time the long range kick for Fewings went wide. The visitors broke out with a strong run by their mobile flanker, who was finally pulled to the ground. Tawton conceded another penalty from which Salcombe opted to tap and run with the try line in sight. A neat threes? move opened up a gap for Salcombe?s centre Will Jordan to break through and score the first try, which went unconverted. Another good three-quarters? movement took Salcombe back to the Tawton 25 metre line and it was their back row again, in the person of number 8 Stuart Windsor, which made the break. This time the ball was fed to winger Lee King who scored the try wide out. The conversion was again missed but Salcombe had edged into a 10 ? 3 lead. A good take from a high ball by Tawton?s full back Tom Davis gave them the chance of a counter attack and support from strong-running new player Stewart Bowker in the centre took play back into Salcombe territory. Their scrum was proving to be effective, particularly in driving mauls, and they were winning a worrying amount of turnover ball. Good tackling by Tawton?s scrum half Chris Martin and centre Mike Symons was crucial in preventing them gaining much advantage. This inspired a come back by the Tawton forwards who forced the visitors into conceding penalties. One of the kicks fell short but the second from about 45 metres skimmed over the bar as David Fewings pulled the home side back into contention. In the closing minutes of the half a break by Tawton?s Bowker followed by neat inter-passing by the supporting players again gained ground for the home side, though a last penalty attempt on half time went wide. At half time it was 10 ? 6 in Salcombe?s favour. Early in the second half another drive by the Salcombe pack forced a penalty from the Tawton defenders and fly half Mark Lidstone had the range to make it 13 ? 6. North Tawton?s pack responded immediately with a turnover from a maul, but was unable to maintain the advantage. A blood bin replacement for Bowker brought on another new player for North Tawton, Pete Gyde at scrum half. Chris Martin moved out to fill the centre position. Sustained pressure by Salcombe pinned North Tawton down close to their try line. Tawton?s determined defence held out and eventually gave Fewings the chance to put in a long clearance and take Tawton out of their half. This was the turning point of the match for, although they kicked a penalty through centre Will Jordan, Salcombe were never to exert their dominance again. Substitutions by Tawton strengthened the pack ? bringing in Andy Pyle and Neil Davis. At 16-6 down it looked ominous for North Tawton but they dug deep. Pressure by Tawton on the Salcombe try line led to a hurried clearance kick by a defender. Following up were Tawton?s centres Symons and Martin and it was Chris Martin who touched down virtually under the posts to give Fewings an easy conversion and take the score to 16-13 to Salcombe. Salcombe captain and hooker Neil Elliott went over but the conversion was missed. Not to be outdone North Tawton replied with equal tenacity and a lineout about 10 metres from the Salcombe try line was turned into a maul off the side of which flanker Richard Lethbridge burst through to score. The conversion was missed leaving Tawton trailing by 18-21, but in a final dramatic twist panicking Salcombe gave away another penalty within easy range for Fewings to notch up a final three points and the equaliser. North Tawton seconds 48 Salcombe seconds 24 NORTH Tawton were delighted to be able to put out a second team against Salcombe. It gave a number of players a chance of a first game this season. Playing short-handed meant there was a lot of open space and this gave the speedsters the room to take on the opposition. The Matavers brothers, Zac and Del, ran in three tries apiece, with further tries by Mike Dennis and Andy Poole, before he had to leave the field with a damaged shoulder. Four of the tries were converted, three by Paul Fewings and one by Ross Lawrence.