Tavistock 2nd XV 23

OPM 2nd XV 25

DESPITE a spirited performance, Tavistock were deprived of the win by a last-gasp penalty in injury time.

The dramatic end could not have been predicted after five minutes with OPMs racing to a 12-0 lead.

After 20 minutes Tavistock showed they were the stronger of the teams. They began to turn the screw with the forwards? mauling game and some excellent linking with the backs winning a penalty after OPMs deliberately infringed on a ruck. The penalty was slotted over by fly half Martin Creddicott.

Tavistock let OPMs take the initiative, their inside centre making decisive yards to release his winger for a try.

Tavistock hooker David Welsh secured good ball and they smuggled it to the back. The maul was controlled by loose head prop John Longden with support from Jim Jeffries and the pack drove 20 yards. After Longden released scrum half Rotten down the side of the maul the scrum half almost beat the away defence by himself but was thwarted a yard short.

The beleaguered OPM defence conceded a series of penalties which led to Tavistock being awarded a penalty try, converted by Creddicott.

At the start of the second half Tavistock?s Dan White showed a clean pair of heels to break, supported by tight head Mat Martin, who took the ball and bulldozed through before being held up five yards out. The ball was recycled and Creddicott released Ninis down the right, then, after he was tackled, Silvest down the left. With backs and forwards putting pressure at the same point in the line Tavistock got their rewards with Griffiths blasting through three tacklers to heave over from four yards, converted by Creddicot.

From the kick-off Tavistock made ground and won a penalty. Creddicott slotted over from 40 yards.

The game was soured after 50 minutes when OPM lost their open side flanker and Tavistock lost their blind side, Paul Williams, both red carded for punching.

OPMs were first to take advantage of the more open game, their right winger capitalising on a lucky bounce to slide over, but the conversion was missed.

Then came the dramatic last ten minutes. Tavistock converted another penalty to take them into the lead by one point after OPMs deliberately killed the ball in the ruck. After resolute defence from winger Glen Martin, Way and Griffiths Tavistock still led deep into injury time, but were crestfallen when OPMs were awarded a penalty which they converted.