Devonport Services 29

Tavistock 6

TAVISTOCK travelled to Devonport for a real crunch match, both teams in the bottom three of this league. The weather was horrible, the rain falling throughout. Tavistock started well enough, winning an early penalty which Richard West duly converted, this stung Devonport into action and they started to put real pressure on Tavistock.

A long kick to the corner and Tavistock had a defensive line-out, this was well won by Andy Hunt, and the pack drove the ruck before laying the ball back. Unfortunately the clearing kick was charged down and Devonport regained possession and set up a series of driving mauls and eventually their centre was able to crash over under the post, the try duly converted.

Tavistock came back strongly but the Devonport defence was resolute and Tavistock only managed another penalty from Richard West. Tavistock then ceded control to Devonport, who used the boot to keep Tavistock pinned in their half.

Another long kick held up in the mud and the Tavistock defence could only scramble the ball into touch at the five metre line.

From the line-out, Devonport set up a driving maul resulting in a try in the corner, the conversion was missed.

Again Devonport used their possession well, another long kick up the field and a good chase resulted in the Tavistock defence being forced into touch. Devonport won the throw in and again set up the driving maul and the inevitable try followed, duly converted.

Tavistock came back and started to play in the Devonport half, retaining the ball and driving deep into the Devonport 22, but as Tavistock moved the ball wide, a careless pass was easily intercepted by the Devonport full back who had a clear run the length of the pitch to score a try, again converted.

The second half started badly, a poor kick out of defence was run back and the Devonport winger was able to run round the despairing defence to score in the corner.

The rain continued and as the players shaped up for a line-out in a lake the referee decided conditions were unsafe and the match was abandoned with 23 minutes remaining, so the fixture with have to be re-played later in the season — a 'get out of jail free' card for Tavistock, who will have to improve markedly if they are to remain in this league.