Tribute Devon one

South Molton 10

North Tawton 36

North Tawton stepped up to the challenge of their first Devon one league match in their 125th season with an emphatic win over South Molton.

A good early start by Tawton found them pushing South Molton back with a series of strong drives, as scrum half Matt Weekes kept his team going forward. It was South Molton who scored first however, with a break-away try from their prop, against the run of play. A conversion by their centre gave them an early seven points. North Tawton responded with a drive over try for number eight Steve King, following up an initial charge by Mike Young from an attacking line out. Dave Fewings slotted the conversion to level the scores.

It was Fewings who scored the next try with a deft pick-up off the bouncing ball which had been hacked forward and caught the defence on the back foot. His conversion took North Tawton into a 14-7 lead.

South Molton came back strongly and had Tawton pinned close to their try line. A penalty was conceded which Molton opted to scrum, only to lose the ball to a strike against the head as the Tawton front row once again started to dominate proceedings.

North Tawton cleared the initial danger but another attack by the South Molton centres drew another penalty and this time the kick was chosen and three points were added to their score, giving a half-time score line of 14-10 to the visitors.

Early in the second half North Tawton had a player sin binned. However a series of drives by the Tawton forwards brought them into position for a drop goal attempt. A sweet pass from scrum half Matt Weekes completed the build up and David Fewings supplied the 30 metre drop to notch up three points.

The 14 men defended well as South Molton tried to get back on terms and strong tackling held them out. Fly half Rob North supplied some good, long clearance kicks, using the wind well to regain territory.

The score moved on to 24-10 to North Tawton when Tawton's Chris Martin was on hand to take Fewings' pass and complete the try, with Fewings again providing the conversion.

Tawton kept up the pressure and a mauling drive by the forwards led to flanker Keith Jones touching down, with the conversion by Fewings to follow.

Once again South Molton forced North Tawton back but a knock on about 10 metres out gave Tawton the chance to win back the ball and left wing Mike Symons went through for a try wide out on the left.

n This week North Tawton have their first home fixture of this league season against Tamar Saracens.