Ellis Cup quarter-final

Plymouth Civil Service 2nd XV 0

Tavistock 2nd XV 32

TAVISTOCK progressed through to the semis with an assured performance.

The pitch became a quagmire within minutes of kick-off, but Tavistock coped well with the slippery ball and the power and technique of their forwards dominated. Flankers Dave Welsh and Dan White harried the opposition fly half to distraction and ruined any possession which Civil could manage.

Tavistock opened the scoring with a penalty near the right touchline converted by fly half Martin Creddicot.

The good start was emphasised after ten minutes with a pin-point kick by Creddicot into the corner, which centre John Malon grabbed to slide over for Tavistock?s first try. It was converted from an acute angle by Creddicot.

A second followed when lock Graham Steer was quick out of the traps to charge down an attempted kick by the Civil full back. Blind side Welsh tidied up the loose ball to slide over from five yards.

After 25 minutes Tavistock converted pressure into points with a well controlled rolling maul. Having advanced 15 yards and sucked in the home side?s defence, No 8 Martin Griffiths released the centres and from the resultant ruck lock Jim Jeffries powered over, converted by Creddicot.

A further two tries followed the first from excellent work by inside centre Fenelon Silvest, powering through the beleaguered defence, to pop a pass to Malon for a try from two yards. The other came from scrum half Craig Pascoe who raced over after another rolling maul had made ten yards.

Compared with the try feast in the first half the second half was a slight disappointment with Tavistock taking their foot off the accelerator and Civil coming back into the game. But the away team were strong enough in defence, slowing the game down and strangling the resistance out of a spirited Civil Service side, to come away with the well deserved victory.