Devon 2

Old Plymouth Oaks 1sts 29

NORTH Tawton made the long trip to Plymouth in this important league game with key players unavailable in the forwards and backs. However, they felt the points could be theirs, having only lost 10-0 at home to dubious tries.

In the first half it looked as if North Tawton might just do that with the wind at their backs. They pinned the home side into their own 22 and held their own in the scrums and dominated the lineout.

They were presented with a couple of chances to score both tries and penalties but unfortunately did not take them.

The second half saw a complete reversal of fortunes, with the North Tawton pack beginning to tire. OPOs, with the wind at their backs, dominated.

It was not long before the tries began to arrive in the backs, where both wingers scores and the No 8 also crossed the line.

The scoring was rounded off by OPOs' outside-half.

North Tawton continued to dominate the lineouts but OPOs' larger and stronger forwards were to prove decisive.

North Tawton are on 90 points, three points clear of bottom club Dartmouth, and have one more league game to play against Marjons at home.

North Tawton Seconds 5

Old Plymouth Oaks Seconds 15

DESPITE OPOs scoring a penalty in the first minute the first half was evenly contested, with North Tawton dominating play in the forwards and backs in the last quarter.

The game flowed from end to end with North Tawton having the better of the play.

The score at the break was just 3-0 to the visitors and North Tawton continued to dominate. Just as they were looking to score, OPOs broke out of defence with a good forward drive to score a converted try against the run of play.

North Tawton seemed to lose their concentration after this and let in OPOs with a sloppy try, due to poor defence.

North Tawton regained their composure and ran at and hassled the OPOs' defence, who gave away penalty after penalty.

Martin Friggins at scrum-half cleverly switched the line of attack and North Tawton got their well deserved score with a try by evergreen Richard Nye from 22 metres out.

It was too late for a North Tawton comeback and the final whistle went on an entertaining game.

North Tawton are away to South Molton Seconds and the Seconds are home to South Molton Thirds, both games friendlies, kick-off 3pm.