North Tawton Ladies 0
Cullompton Ladies 15
TAVISTOCK/North Tawton entertained Cullompton at North Tawton on a cold blustery day.
Tavistock/North Tawton had four players who had rushed back from a morning training session for the South and South West squad; Wizz Francis, Vicky Marsdon, Terry Easton and Clare Kelly.
It was not surprising that the home side were slow to start and in no time they were down a try from a good breakout by Cullompton?s centre Clair Nichols.
The game went through a scrappy phase with neither side getting on top despite good breaks by Tavistock/North Tawton.
Scrum half Easton linked well with outside half Helen King but Meakins for Cullompton broke through for her second try.
Tavistock/North Tawton slowly worked their way back and with good work by Debbie Ward at hooker acquitted themselves well in set-pieces.
But it was the loose play that let them down despite excellent runs by prop Laura Hillom, who was always backing up the play.
With the score 10-0 to the visitors at half time, it was left to coach Brian Crisp to inspire his squad.
But a try in the opening minutes of the second half by centre Kate Wood for Cullompton was hard to take for the home side.
Good defence and tackling by the Tavistock/North Tawton backs and forwards then kept the visitors at bay, ably led by the back row of Captain Francis and No 7 Marie Ewing.
Tavistock/North Tawton began taking the game to Cullompton and were in total command for the last 20 minutes with a repeated string of penalties on the visitors? lines.
Their best chances came with three set five-metre scrums but they could not convert them into points.
They deserved a score, but to add insult to injury they lost second row Lucy Cleave who was carried off in the last minute.
But the home side can take great heart that a much changed side put up such a good fight.
Tavistock/North Tawton are home at North Tawton next on Saturday April 10.