Paignton Colts 22
Tavistock Colts 24
THIS was very much a rugby game of two halves with Tavistock dominating the first half and the home side the second.
The early play saw both sides win penalties and kicking to touch to gain ground. The first score came when scrum half Niall Murphy dispossessed his opposite number at a scrum in the home side 22. The resulting turnover ball was fed along to Mark Friend, who squeezed in at the corner for the opening try.
Some strong kicking from Josh Leeson kept the play in the visitors half however a charge down nearly brought a try for the home team but George Rogers managed to smother the ball before the opposition could pounce on it. The home side narrowed the score with a penalty.
Tavistock increased their lead with a classic forwards try. From a lineout deep in the Paignton 22, a catch by Dan Oner set up a rolling maul that resulted in front row Joe Hair being driven over.
The next try soon followed as a loose ball was hacked through by Monty Burfield who continued his run to pick up and touchdown under the posts. Leeson converted. Right on half time a Tavistock penalty struck the post.
The second half started with both sides trading possession without threatening but the home side then managed to get a try in the corner. Again they pressed but an interception by Friend deep in his own 22 saw him sprint the length of the pitch to touchdown. Leeson converted.
Paignton upped their game and reduced the deficit with two converted tries, however Tavistock managed to see out the game to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.