Tavistock 6

Tamar Saracens 27

AFTER competent performances in league fixtures against Totnes and Old Technicians this season, Tavistock could have been guilty of complacency against Saracens, who have struggled in previous games. On the day, this was a luxury Tavistock could not consider as, due to absence and injury, the match was played with only two of the back in their normal positions.

Saracens began strongly, using their heavy forwards effectively in the loose, rucking aggressively and maintaining possession well. As a mobile side, Tavistock's natural response would have been to counter attack from 'quick-tap' penalties. The referee, under assessment, would not allow this essential feature of the game, however, and Tavistock were prevented from exercising their most effective means of play.

Excuses made, the experienced Tavistock players should not have allowed these two factors to disrupt their passage of play to such an extent and the fact remains that the Saracens were more hungry for the ball and more committed in securing loose ball from rucks and mauls. Tavistock failed to alter their game plan to combat their adversities and, at times, their tackling was poor.

Some encouragement should be taken from the fact that the forwards won a significant amount of ball 'against the head' in set-piece scrums and secured all of their own lineout ball. Congratulations should also go to hooker Rob Sleep who, due to so many absences in the backs, was nominated as the team's place-kicker. Sleep managed to kick two tricky penalties in difficult, windy conditions.

The 'Moorlanders' are only too aware of the areas on which to improve and how this game should have been a convincing victory for them. Luckily, they have a chance to redeem themselves this weekend, when they play host to Tamar Saracens on the return league fixture.