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New Cross 44

North Tawton 6

THIS was a bruising encounter as North Tawton faced a strong New Cross side who are one place below them in the league. New Cross made a good start and although North Tawton rallied and forced them back, a break by New Cross brought them a penalty five metres out. From the resulting scrum New Cross fly half Louie Griffiths found a gap down the right to go through for an unconverted try.

The visitors replied as New Cross infringed just outside their 22 metre line and David Fewings struck a good penalty to give his side three points. Good play by New Cross set up a cross-field move finished off by the left wing scoring a try wide out but Tawton made an immediate riposte as New Cross were penalised at the restart and Fewings slotted another good kick from wide out to take the scores to 6 -10 to New Cross. The next penalty went to New Cross after a scything break by their number eight made a lot of ground; Griffiths converted to take his team on to 13 points. During the next attack a try was saved by the speed of Tawton wing Jack Phare sprinting back but in the resulting follow up New Cross got through for another try by Griffiths, which he converted.

New Cross started to dominate proceedings at the lineouts, though Tawton was holding out in the set scrums. Despite some outstanding work again in the loose by Tawton's second row James Henshaw New Cross scored again as the half time whistle approached to give Griffiths his hat trick of tries. Although the conversion was missed the half time score stood at 25-6 to New Cross.

Early in the second half an awesome head on tackle by Tawton's prop Pete Wonnacott stopped a New Cross attack in its tracks and infringements by New Cross meant Tawton were gaining ground. A good break by scrum half Matt Weekes supported by Alfie May at centre took them to the opposition 10 metre line but New Cross managed to clear. They followed up with a break by Griffiths and the ball was moved wide for the full back to score on the left.

North Tawton full back Bill Sharp came into the line and nearly worked an opening with his centre Rob Stepto, but they failed to break the line and New Cross cleared. Despite the commitment of the tackling by North Tawton's players they could not make much headway and New Cross finished the match with two more tries — both converted by Griffiths.