Burnham on Sea 24

Tavistock 24

TAVISTOCK came away from Burnham on Saturday having earned two points for a draw but feeling that with the pressure they had put on their hosts in the final ten minutes, it could have been a win.

That being said Tavistock did have to come back from the dead just after half time when they were 24 – 10 down and the previous week's big win over Bude a distant memory.

Tavistock started brightly and were the team initially putting on the pressure but the Burnham defence held firm and took the lead with a try from Shane Long converted by John James. Indiscipline soon after cost Tavistock three more points when James kicked a penalty.

Tavistock went back on the attack and after causing a mistake in the Burnham defence centre Matt Witcher kicked the ball on and won the race for the touchdown to claim the try. Fly half Richard West converted.

Unfortunately in the process of scoring Witcher damaged his hamstring and was forced to leave the field.

Nick Lane returning from injury replaced Witcher and had a sound game.

The large Burnham pack started to turn the screw and drove Tavistock deep into their own half where prop Nick Hill rumbled over for the try. James again converted.

Just before half time Tavistock were forced into making a second substitution when Ed Maslaveckas, playing only his second game for the club, left the field with a head injury. Tim Child came on as a replacement.

After ten minutes of the second half Burnham again increased their lead with a third try scored by Richard Jones and converted by James.

This reversal seemed to spur Tavistock into action.

They initially reduced the arrears when good back play saw centre Lawrence Evans dummy his way through the Burnham defence and race in from forty metres to score.

The Tavistock forwards them got in on the act and after some barging runs from Ben Williams, Andrew Griffiths and Andrew Shutacacker skipper Adrian Baker score between the posts and Richard West's conversion brought the sides level with less than ten minutes to play.

Tavistock battered the Burnham defence for the final few minutes but sound tackling saw them having to settle for a draw.

This Saturday Tavistock entertain local rivals Devonport Services at Sandy Park in a Western Counties fixture.

Kick off 2.30pm.