Devon two League North Tawton 6 Topsham 34 NORTH Tawton were back in league action against top of the table Topsham and the scoreline did not reflect how even was much of the play between the two sides. Ten minutes after the kick off Topsham had an easy penalty chance for scrum half Rob Holman to open the scoring. The Topsham pack's main tactic was to drive the loose mauls as far as they could then set up second phase ball. This was reasonably successful to start with but the Tawton pack responded well and a break off the back of one of their own mauls by Phil Elkins at flanker forced an error from the visitors and gave Tawton a penalty. The spot kick was converted by fly half Dave Fewings to even the scores. Almost immediately an excellent break by Gary Dennis set up a good passage of play for the home side. Zac Matravers continued the move with an inside break and the Topsham defence conceded another penalty for Fewings to kick Tawton into the lead at 6-3. Although the set scrums were being dominated by Topsham there was an encouraging moment as Tawton hooked their own ball on a retreating scrum and still managed to control the delivery to scrum half Martin Friggins, who put in a good clearance. Phil Elkins was showing how much he was relishing the position of flanker as several times he took loose ball off the back of the lineout and gained ground. Some cool defence work was needed by Tawton full back Tom Davis when the ball failed to bounce off the pudding-like surface and he had to clear under pressure. Topsham were starting to gain ascendancy in the loose play and a well-controlled maul took them within range and a neat pass out to Terry Byrne saw him dive over under the posts. The conversion by Holman took the visitors to 6 -10 ahead and shortly afterwards he slotted another penalty as Tawton were again pressurised in their 22 metre area. Despite the slippery ball the Tawton team were showing some very neat handling and their threes made several good attacks as captain Steve King broke off the pack to give them space in which to work. Unfortunately a high up and under kick by Topsham was missed and their centre Will Dawes followed up well with a sprint for the line to score a try. The conversion by Holman took the half time score to 6-20 in favour of the visitors. North Tawton re-started with determination, typified by some fierce mauling by flankers Keith Jones and Phil Elkins who turned over ball from a Topsham break. In the set scrums Tawton were struggling to contain Topsham and a well-organised drive by them led to a push-over try credited to number 8 Nathan Mayne. This was converted by Holman. Two substitutions for Tawton in the pack brought on much-needed fresh legs and the team was well fired up as they drove into the loose mauls. A good long penalty clearance by Fewings briefly took them back into Topsham's 22 metre area. Topsham had the final say in the match, however, and a good take and drive off a line out about 10 metres out led to flanker Will Whetstone going over for the final try, converted by Holman. The North Tawton squad were not too disheartened and it was a credit to their improving discipline that they conceded so few penalties in the slippery conditions. North Tawton's man of the match award went to flanker Keith Jones.