Devon 1

Tavistock 86

Ilfracombe 0

TAVISTOCK completed a 14-try rout of Ilfracombe on Saturday and increased their superior points difference over rivals in the race for the title at the top of the division.

Tavistock completed the double over a gallant, but limited, Ilfracombe with a mixture of scintillating running from the backs and forceful driving and good close support play in the forwards.

Tavistock immediately took the game to Ilfracombe but poor handling and mistakes by the home side initially let the visitors off the hook.

Skipper Lee Greatrex showed what was needed and crossed over for a brace of back to back tries, both from blindside breaks. Fly half Neil Evans extended the lead, getting on the end of a clever crossfield kick from full back Mark Baker.

Centre Duncan Law scored the fourth Tavistock try and flanker Tom Dawe got the fifth, finishing off a move involving both backs and forwards when he crossed near to the posts. Evans converted three of the tries to give Tavistock a 31-0 lead at half-time.

The second half started in the same vein as the first ended with Tavistock exerting all the pressure and Ilfracombe tackling manfully in an attempt to stem the tide. Evans was the first to break the deadlock with a trade mark individual score. Flanker Paul Greenhill then capitalised on some poor Ilfracombe defence to pounce on the ball to score.

Tom Dawe the scored his second try before second row forward Andy Hunt scored two in a row. Evans completed his hat-trick when he scored out wide.

Tavistock then absorbed a spirited Ilfracombe rally before they rounded off the game with three late tries. Mike Lyddon burst through the centre, Josh Sutton then went over, breaking from a five-metre scrum and finally prop Tom Hurdwell capped a solid performance when he powered over late in the game. Evans converted five second half scores.

This week Tavistock continue their quest for national cup honours in round five of the National Powergen Vase Competition away at Old Redcliffians, their Bristol-based Somerset Premier League opponents.

This is the fourth game in a row in which Tavistock have been drawn away from home and the third in which they have been pitted against higher league opposition.