North Tawton President's XV 29

THIS was a match of true quality between two sides fully committed to the desire to win but showing tremendous mutual respect.

The President's side was captained from scrum half by North Tawton president Paul Fewings and contained a mix of former North Tawton players and several from Okehampton.

Early pressure by North Tawton tested the President's defence but they were equal to it, blocking a break by Tawton winger Graham Sage and finally pushing Tawton back to halfway.

A cut to the eye of Tawton centre Simon Quick brought on Karl Poynton as substitute.

A scything run from deep by President's full back Gareth Espin cut through Tawton's line and he went over at pace for the first try, which was not converted.

A powerful drive by President's prop Dan Carey took his side within striking distance, but they were able to clear.

Tawton's scrum half Richie Friend, having an excellent game behind the Tawton pack, ripped the ball out of a maul and a pass to Karl Poynton found him in space to break through under the posts. He converted to put Tawton 7–5 ahead.

The President's side responded with a second try from Espin, collecting a pass from centre Luke Honeychurch to sprint through and score. Honeychurch converted to take the President's to 12-7.

Ten minutes into the second period Tawton made substitutions and were again pressuring the President's 22-metre area. A break out of loose play by Poynton gave him a second try, which he converted. Almost immediately Tawton had another try, this time from another guest player, full back Jake Chisholm. This was converted by Poynton, to put Tawton 21-12 ahead.

The President's side responded with two tries of their own. The first came from another Espin break, who fed the ball out to left wing Lee Carey to charge over for the try. The conversion was missed. A penalty to the President's side 15 metres from the Tawton line was tapped and passed to Honeychurch who scored. The conversion was well struck by David Fewings as the President's side edged into a 24-21 lead.

North Tawton came back to within five metres of the President's line where a maul developed. There seemed to be little on but Tawton's Simon Quick, back on the pitch having been stitched up, spotted a gap and stepped through the melee of players for a well taken try. The conversion was missed but Tawton were on a roll and shortly after they were awarded a penalty. A short discussion with the referee resulted in the President's conceding an extra 10 metres which brought the spot into range for Poynton to opt for the kick and duly slot the three points with a good strike. The scores now put Tawton ahead by 29-24.

There was time for one more push and it was the President's men who took the initiative. A break by their full back Espin was foiled by some clever defensive work by Tawton's own full back Chisholm. They gained a scrum ten metres from the Tawton line from which fly half David Fewings neatly switched the direction of play to pass out to Lee Carey on the wing and he made sure of the try to draw the match 29-29. Unluckily the conversion just missed so the final score remained a draw.

The final action of the season at Taw Meadows is a seven-a-side event on May 23 when all will be welcome to a rugby and barbecue finale to the season.