Devon one North and East

North Tawton 33

Ilfracombe 0

ON a perfect day for rugby at Taw Meadows North Tawton put on a display of controlled and determined play to earn a deserved win over North Devon opponents Ilfracombe.

Within a minute the home side had a penalty kick from 40 metres out which fell just short, but they maintained the momentum and were rewarded with a try from number eight Steve King, forcing his way through a maul to touch down.

The chance was set up by a good break inside by right wing Tom Chisolm, linking with the supporting pack. The conversion by David Fewings took them to 7-0 ahead.

Ilfracombe attempted to set up an attack, and a well-angled run by their left wing cut through the Tawton line with worrying ease.

North Tawton regrouped and cleared the ball, then pegged Ilfracombe back in their half with some good plays.

Off the back of a Tawton scrum a good flat pass to outside centre Fewings opened up a half gap in the defensive line. He was able to slip the ball back inside to the supporting player who ran in for a second try; the conversion by Fewings made it 14-0.

Ilfracombe got themselves back in the match and it needed good clearance kicking out of defence, first by fly half Rob North and then by scrum half Simon Quick, to deny them any advantage.

Early in the second half Ilfracombe were penalised for going over the top but the North Tawton kick to the posts was just wide. Soon after a penalty tap and pass by Quick from about five metres out picked out Mike Young who cut through for a try under the posts, converted by Fewings.

The domination of the set scrums by Tawton was a key feature of their play, with the front row of Tom Philips, Alfie May and Pete Wonnacott setting the platform for their pack to drive Ilfracombe back several times, often off their own ball.

North Tawton's next score came when Steve King broke off the back of an advancing scrum 15 metres from Ilfracombe's line. He fed the ball to Simon Quick who dummied to his right wing the stepped through the gap to score a good try. Once again Fewings obliged with the boot and took Tawton's haul to 28, with Ilfracombe yet to score.

With the Ilfracombe pack tiring and Tawton starting to improve their looes play the final score was almost inevitable. It came from another tapped penalty by Quick who passed out to centre David Fewings. With the defence in disarray he had time to pick his spot to touch down.

The final conversion bounced off an upright, giving a final score of 33-0 to North Tawton.