NORTH Tawton fielded two teams to honour the home and away fixture with South Molton, with the first team away and the seconds, playing as North Okes, at Taw Meadow. South Molton 2nd 31 North Tawton 12 EARLY in the match South Molton?s scrum gained a good position in North Tawton?s half and from a five metre scrum a blind side move gave the chance of their first try to their right wing. The score was close to the touchline and the conversion was unsuccessful. Despite a good attack from Tawton which pushed the home side back, the strength of their scrum was proving to be the key difference between the teams and a second try came from a line-out on Tawton?s 22 metre line. An excellent cross-field passing manoeuvre was set up, this time releasing the left wing to touch down and extend the score to 10-nil. South Molton established some dominance in the set plays, and Tawton?s scrum was under pressure. In recent matches the pack has been in excellent form but the heavier and more experienced North Devon side was proving to be a challenge. Tawton?s back row were tigerish in their defence, notably Rob McBain and Matt Weekes at flanker, but the pressure was turned into more points for Molton with a further try to their centre who broke through to score close to the posts. This was converted by the fly-half to extend their lead to 17 points. Tawton countered well and a good driving play with forwards and backs in concert drove Molton back into their 22 metre area where they conceded a penalty. North Tawton?s fly-half Tom Davis was unlucky with the attempted kick, but his team maintained the advantage they had established, forcing another penalty offence from the defending players. This one was only about five metres out and Charlie Ewen stepped up to take the tap. South Molton had obviously not been warned about Ewen this season because he again dummied a pass then drove through the short distance to score a deserved try. North Tawton were gradually finding their shape and the scrum began to compete well in the set plays as well as in the loose. A good attack down the left flank by Dave Quick and Paul Fewings broke down, and then the Molton pack re-asserted their dominance. From a scrum near Tawton?s 22 metre line another break from their centre breached the tenacious defence to score a try under the posts. This was converted to leave the scores at 24 -5 to the home side at the break. At half time Tawton?s McBain had to leave the field with an arm injury, having been in the thick of the play during the first half. He was replaced by Tawton?s captain Kevin Avery. Early in this half, South Molton nearly scored again as their inside centre again broke through. This time, however, the try was prevented by the combined efforts of defenders Phil Wale and Alfie May, but the pressure was maintained and soon after Molton?s second row did breach the stretched defence to score another converted try. A change of tactics at the line-outs brought Tawton back into the reckoning as they varied their takes, using the catch and drive and the short ball to the front to keep Molton guessing. This paid dividends, and they were able to dominate much of this phase of play, in one move driving a good 15 metres. A scrum on the home side?s 22 metre line gave Number 8 Adam Hooper his chance and he picked up from the back and fed a neat ball to Phil Wale. At this distance the pace and deceptive running of Tawton?s scrum half threaded the defence for a second try to the visitors, this one under the posts. Tom Davis slotted the conversion to bring the score to 12 points for Tawton. The final stages were evenly contested, though Tawton looked the more threatening. Even in defence they were dangerous, with a memorable break from deep in their 22-metre area by centre Alfie May nearly creating a score. Having covered a full 30 metres he was hauled down, and the ball was recycled quickly. South Molton?s defence held out, however, and the final whistle blew without further scoring. North Okes 6 South Molton 3rd 26 A COMBINATION squad comprising North Tawton and Okehampton players, supplemented by 8 Colts players from both towns, took on the experienced visitors from North Devon. Although well-beaten by better organised opposition, notably in the scrum, there were many positive outcomes for the home side. Young players Simon Quick and Ian Sercombe, playing at scrum half and fly half respectively, acquitted themselves well, and there were 30 more players enjoying a game of rugby who might otherwise have been watching Leeds beat Bath!