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North Tawton 12

Tiverton seconds 10

NORTH Tawton made few changes for this non-league game against a second team from Tiverton; James Miller moved to prop and there was a first appearance for William Hawkins on the flank.

Tiverton kept North Tawton penned in their own half for a long period at the start but, apart from a break from his 22 metre area by Tiverton full-back Chris Read which was halted by a good tackle from his opposite number Bill Sharp, they were not able score.

A better spell of play by Tawton, led by a driving charge from second row James Henshaw, gave them their first real penetration of Tiverton territory and they came away with three points from a penalty kick by David Fewings. Towards the end of the half Tiverton's right wing Barney Bell broke through to score a try wide out. The conversion was well struck by Steve Cochrane for Tiverton to take the lead at 7-3 at the end of the half.

North Tawton made a much better start in the second period with their forwards establishing some dominance in the loose play. David Fewings converted a good long-distance penalty to take Tawton to within a point.

Tiverton's long kicking game was giving Tawton the chance to run at them, with captain Paul Turner catching and driving the ball back several times. It was from one of these loose clearances that Tawton's flanker William Hawkins did the same and Tawton were into Tiverton's five metre area. A penalty was conceded by Tiverton and the scrum was chosen but this time it was the Tiverton pack which was dominant and turned the scrum over. Repeated offending by Tiverton saw them conceding several penalties with Dave Fewings scoring another three points from a 40 metre penalty kick.

Then it was North Tawton's turn to give away a penalty in range for Tiverton's Steve Cochrane to kick his side into a 10-9 lead. A good attack by Tawton took them into Tiverton's 22 metre area and a deft pass off the back of a ruck by scrum half Matt Weekes gave his fly half Rob North the space to slot a drop goal to give Tawton a narrow lead at 12-10. Tiverton were still prone to giving away penalties and although North Tawton could not increase their lead it resulted in Tiverton being reduced to 14 men.

n Tawton are back in league action, away to Salcombe.