TAVISTOCK College produced an excellent performance to reach the final of the West Devon DR U14 Rugby Sevens Competition held at Kelly College.

Tavistock were in the pool section against its B team (The Hardlyquins), Fridge, Plymouth College and DSS.

The competition did not start well, for in its first game, against DSS, the A team found themselves behind by 10 points as a result of weak tackling. Tavistock closed the gap with a try by Alex Brown, converted by Sam Smerdon, and although they had chances to win in the second half poor handling saw the team lose10-7.

From then on, the complexion of the day became more rosy. Tavistock went on to beat Fridge 26-12 with tries by Wayne Downham, Joe Smith, Brown and Smerdon. Three conversions were added by Smerdon

A competitive match against Tavistock B saw the B team victorious by 38-5. The A team tries came from Tom Paine twice, Joel Smith, Lee Wickett and Brendon Chapple, with three conversions again from Smerdon. The B team try was well deserved and scored by Ashley Eslick.

The final pool game saw Plymouth College defeated 35-5. Tries this time came from Smith, Brown and Smerdon. He also managed three conversions.

The quarter-final saw the college drawn against St Boniface College. The game was tight and saw Tavistock win narrowly 21-19. Try-scorers were Smerdon, Smith and Wickett, the three successful conversions by Smerdon being the deciding factor.The semi-final saw the game of the competition with Tavistock College facing a strong Kelly College on its own ground.

Tavistock took the lead twice, only to be pegged back by Kelly. The score ended 14-14 at the end of full time and had to go to sudden death in extra time. Wayne Downham's storming run was finished off by Brown to give him a hat-trick. Again Smerdon gained two conversions, the score ending Tavistock 19, Kelly 14.

The final was a repeat of the first game of the day with Tavistock facing DSS. Unfortunately the exertions of the day and particularly the match against Kelly took its toll. DSS ran out deserved winners 24-10, and remained the only unbeaten team on the day.

Tavistock's tries came from Downham and Brown, but in the end the team had to settle for losers' medals.