Tavistock 1st 36

Brixham 2nds 5

TAVISTOCK were to have started their cup rugby campaign last weekend, but Salcombe refused to travel, giving Tavistock a bye. Instead, they picked up this friendly fixture against a club several leagues their senior.

For the first few minutes Brixham seemed the strongest and most confident side. Tavistock's forwards began to dominate play, robbing Brixham of their lineout ball and driving them off in scrums.

Tavistock took control, releasing the pace of their backs and rucking effectively in loose play.

For the second week running, nimble hooker Rob Sleep was first to score. Jim Jeffries took Brixham's lineout ball and popped it to Sleep, who crashed over the line. Fly half Chris Woods converted.

Tavistock's backs began to pass the ball confidently. Centres Robin Weldon and Barney Dunstan punched huge holes in the defence and full back Seb Roberts made some darting runs. It was winger, Simon Beatty who was next to score, skilfully collecting a rushed pass, then rolling out of a tackle to dive over the line. Roberts converted.

Sleep showed agility as he broke through the defenders to score his second. A lapse in concentration and some missed tackles allowed Brixham to break back and score, but Tavistock second row Andy Hunt built on last season's impressive score count when he charged over the line from eight yards just before half-time. Roberts notched his second conversion, leaving the half-time score at 24-5.

Brixham had the wind and slope in their favour in the second half and seemed determined to take the fight back to Tavistock. Unfortunately their scrum-half took this literally and was sin-binned for ten minutes after a stamping incident on scrum-half Gareth Mason.

Tavistock's progress was slow and deliberate, but they used the backs effectively to run the ball up the pitch as they demonstrated impressive handling. Roberts had to go off with a minor neck injury and flanker, Simon Boreham moved back to full back.

Tavistock's final try resulted from excellent handling in the backs. The ball went through every hand. Boreham released Beatty on the wing, who used his pace to round his opposite man and dive over the line to score his second.

Tavistock travel to Topsham for their second league match.