Cullompton RFC 2nd XV 17
Tavistock RFC 2nd XV 15
IN near-perfect conditions Tavistock started briskly with a move which gained 30 yards down the left, instigated by Andrew Griffiths. Despite making inroads into the Cullompton defence, careless ruckking on the ground led to a turnover and Cullompton scored a breakaway try.
Lax tackling and poor communication led to Cullompton scoring their second try.
Tavistock dug deep again and refloated their bid for glory. Griffiths stormed through the centres to set up a marvellous period of play for the visitors which had everything except the try they craved.
Although Tavistock had most of the possession and were dominant in the scrum they could not bring their pressure to bear.
Tavistock rang the changes at half-time and it paid off with replacement blind side James McDowell making yardage down the right and linking well with scrum half Craig Pascoe and tight head Chris Johns.
Tavistock scored their first try after sustained pressure and a 20-yard rolling maul released Griffiths who fed Paul Williams to fly over between the posts.
Tavistock scored again within five minutes, following good work in the lineout from Phil Maloney releasing replacement hooker Tom Smith to crash over and set up a grand slam finale to the last ten minutes.
The final chance came when Tavistock earned a scrum on the opponents? five-yard line. Tavistock lost the scrum against the head but regained possession when it turned 90 degrees. But they could not get the score and left empty handed.