Tavistock 10

Honiton 3

THE four top sides in the league met on Saturday and the results signal the contenders for promotion to the Devon and Cornwall League. Tavistock?s hard-fought win at Honiton keeps their chances of promotion alive and dealt Honiton?s chances a fatal blow.

A surprise victory for second-place OPMs over unbeaten Sidmouth, however, makes Tavistock?s job that much harder, as they will now have to rely on OPMs losing a game to stay in contention.

This was a real battle of wills for both teams, playing in difficult conditions. Honiton had a clear weight advantage in the forwards, allowing them a significant amount of possession, but it was the Tavistock backs who looked the most likely to convert possession to points.

Honiton took an early lead from a penalty in front of Tavistock?s posts and used the wind and slope to keep the Moorlanders in their own half. The visitors played impeccably in defence, however, knocking back the three quarters and disrupting the dangerous Honiton mauls.

Time after time, Tavistock battled up the slope with short passes and quickly released ball from rucks.

Forwards Matt and Darren Cole, Andy Hunt, Rob Monk, and Rob Sleep battered their way ever closer to the Honiton line, while flanker Simon Boreham and centres Robin Weldon and Barney Dunstan made good ground from attacking runs.

Tavistock deserved to lead by half-time and their reward came just before the break when winger Mike Lyddon charged down a Honiton kick and showed great pace to dive on the ball as it crossed the line.

The appalling weather made the second half a test of endurance- and handling skills. Honiton threatened the Tavistock line in the opening minutes but the visitors collected themselves once more, steadfastly defending until they regained possession then running with great purpose, moving the ball effectively, given the conditions.

Tavistock?s final try seemed to come from nowhere. Honiton were pinned inside their own 22 and, as the scrum half passed the ball from a maul, Tavistock second row Jim Jeffries showed incredible pace and ball handling as he intercepted and dived over the line.