Devon 2 League North Tawton 5 Topsham 37 NORTH Tawton came up against the strong side from Topsham, high flyers in the Devon 2 league, and found out early in the game that their reputation was well-deserved. The Topsham pack dominated the early mauling phases of play and Tawton conceded two tries. The first conversion was missed but the second was successful, putting Topsham 12-0 ahead within 20 minutes. Matt Weekes had an excellent game at inside centre and must have been pushing for ?man of the match? with his excellent tackling efforts. Despite the best efforts of the Tawton defence Topsham scored another try from a scrum close to the Tawton line. This was not converted. Tawton came back into the game but failed to capitalise on pressure from a five metre scrum, allowing Topsham to clear their lines. A wheeled scrum soon after gave the visiting side a break for their fly half Nathan Ellery to cut through the Tawton defence and pass to winger Dave Court who went in for his hat-trick of tries. This was not converted and Tawton defended well in the final stages of the half. At the start of the second half Neville Phillips came on to replace Kevin Avery but the pressure from Topsham was maintained. Despite excellent defensive work by Tawton?s three quarters and a good clearance kick by their Number 8 Steve King, play became stale-mated until Topsham broke the pattern when they were awarded a penalty within easy range and Holman converted the kick to push Topsham?s lead to 25 - 0.
North Tawton showed a spirited comeback and put the Topsham line under considerable pressure. A sequence of penalties and 5 metre scrums nearly culminated in their first try but the attempt was deemed to have been held upover the line by the referee. Topsham attacked again and a break down the left wing was stifled by the combined tackling of full back Tom Davis and centre Andy Bourner. However the visitors were not to be denied and another good drive from their forwards led to a try which was converted by Holman to take the score to 32-0. Tawton came back immediately and from a line-out on Topsham?s 5 metre line a take by Adam Hooper set up a drive which culminated in a scramble over the line from which Tawton?s Steve King emerged as the try scorer, to compensate the home side for their efforts. The conversion from distance bounced off the cross bar. Just as the match seemed settled a lucky kick through by Topsham split the Tawton lines and he raced in for a final try. This was not converted and the final score stood at 37-5 to Topsham.