Tavistock 18

Sidmouth 21

THIS was the big game of the league, the unbeaten leaders, Sidmouth, travelling to second place Tavistock to battle for top position.

For the second week running, Tavistock lost by failing to catch up a first half points deficit.

But they were fractionally close to taking the lead, and would undoubtedly have done so had they made the best of possession.

Tavistock started with a pace and passion that seemed to take the visitors by surprise. Playing up the hill and against the breeze they forced an early error from Sidmouth and full back Josh Sutton took a shot at the posts.

The ball bounced from one upright to the other, landing just behind the cross bar, to put Tavistock in the lead after five minutes.

Sidmouth settled and looked dangerous whenever the backs were in possession.

The Tavistock backs were slow to employ the lessons learned from last week?s game and Sidmouth were able to create an overlap.

Two converted tries put them in control, but Tavistock raised their efforts and were soon camped on the Sidmouth line, looking for that vital score before half-time.

A long pass was intercepted by the Sidmouth centre, however, and he ran the length of the pitch to put the visitors 21-3 ahead at half time.

The second half was like a different game. It was as if Sidmouth felt they had done enough to win and were happy to sit back and let Tavistock take the game to them.

Tavistock were not going to turn down such an opportunity and were in absolute control for the whole of the half.

They battered the Sidmouth defence, forcing errors and chipping away at the visitors? lead.

A penalty from just outside the five-yard line was an open invitation to scrum half, Lee Greatrex, who slipped through the defenders to score under the posts, allowing Sutton to convert.

Flanker, Darren Cole, scored again for the Moorlanders soon after but the conversion went wide. Another penalty opportunity late in the half put Tavistock within a point and the game seemed theirs for the taking.

Despite a brave performance and an impressive comeback the match should have been in the bag for Tavistock. Their failure to

defend effectively at the first half and inability to convert pressure into points in the second allowed Sidmouth a lucky escape.

For the time being Sidmouth remain unbeaten at the top of the league, and OPM?s victory against DHSOBs pushes Tavistock into third place.

Tavistock meet each side again in this league, though, and know absolutely that they are capable of taking both games.