Exeter Saracens 42

Tavistock 20

TAVISTOCK's run of bad luck continued at the weekend.

Due to illness and injury, Tavistock had a reformed front row. Leading point-scorer Neil Evans had to go off early on and a hamstring injury to centre Mike Lidden towards the end of the first half saw the home side's substitute bench virtually depleted.

Despite such drastic misfortune, Tavistock's performance was an overall improvement on last week's game and the supporters were treated to an end-to-end battle to which the score does little justice.

The scoring began in Tavistock's favour,with a penalty from the deft foot of Evans, who was soon after replaced by Chris Straughn due to injury.

Saracens' strength lay in their strong, mobile pack, who ran the ball at Tavistock at every opportunity. This was costly for Tavistock, who conceded three tries and two penalties before half-time.

At times the Tavistock pack also looked dangerous, and Matt Wood, Matt Cole and Paul Edwards all played well in the loose.

It was the towering second row, Andy Hunt, however, who eventually managed to crash over the line for the home sides' first try, and with Straughn's conversion and a penalty kick following shortly Tavistock trailed 13-25 at half-time.

The majority of the second half seemed to be spent with Tavistock camped on the Saracens' line, but tough defending blocked every attempt to cross the line.

Eventually, however, Paul Allen mirrored some of the individual skills displayed at Civil Service last week; chipping the ball over the defence, and claiming the ball from a defender's handling error to score for Tavistock.

This was to be Saracens' day, though, and they scored two tries of their own in reply to put the game well beyond reach.

Exeter Saracens Seconds 29

Tavistock Seconds 19

TAVISTOCK will be disappointed to have lost this game after giving their worst performance of the season.

Trailing 12-0 at half-time Tavistock knew they had to improve on their first half performance but the home side scored a try almost straight from the kick-off.

Tavistock then started to play the way they can. With good forward work the ball was spun wide quickly with Martin Credicott putting away Seb Roberts who evaded the cover to score in the corner — and when fly half Adam Bridgewater kicked the difficult conversion a fightback seemed on the cards.

Tavistock scored a second try through James Mcdowell. A long pass from Bridgewater found Roberts in space, who then found Craig Pornoe. He was held up just short of the line but managed to get the ball back to Credicott whose overhead pass allowed Mcdowell to plunge over.

But all of this good work was to no avail as poor defence allowed Saracens to score their fourth try which was converted. A penalty was added five minutes later, but with almost the last move of the match winger Glenn Martyn was high tackled and held up over the line, giving Tavistock a penalty try which Bridgewater converted.

Tavistock must improve after this lacklustre display as they face a tough game away at Paignton this week.