Western Counties League.

Tavistock RFC 9

Tiverton 31

TAVISTOCK kicked off with the slope and although they had the majority of the early possession, they could not break down a stubborn defence.

They resorted to kicking their possession away instead of going through the phases and wearing the Tiverton resistance down.

Tiverton grew in confidence and with virtually their first attack, after 13 minutes the visiting backs ran a excellent line to cut through the Tavistock defence, scoring a try, the conversion was missed.

Tavistock came straight back, and Josh Sutton converted a penalty.

Despite having a good share of possession, Tavistock failed to make any in roads and from a careless mistake Tiverton took play into the Tavistock 22.

From a line-out Tiverton moved the ball wide and then a quick cut back exposed a great hole for them to score in the corner, the conversion was successful. Again Tavistock hit back, some strong running from Doug Lloyd set up a successful drop goal for Richard West.

The home side launched more attacks, but Tiverton held firm just conceding another penalty which Josh Sutton converted.

The second half had Tavistock playing up the slope and they set up a number of attacks but again. There seemed to be too little passion or forward momentum, Tiverton were comfortably dealing with the attacks which were too lateral to create openings.

Inevitably a dropped pass was hacked down the field and Tiverton were only held up by a great tackle from Alex Moyes and Dan Luffman, from the resulting scrum, Tiverton scored another try, duly converted. Again Tavistock had their chance to get back, but another mistake, on the Tiverton line and Tiverton raced the full length of the pitch to score in the corner.

More attacks from Tavistock were easily rebuffed and Tiverton just waited for the next mistake and then struck with clinical efficiency to score a final try.

Withycombe 19

Tavistock 48

TAVISTOCK scored their most resounding win of the season when they handed out an eight try mauling to the Exmouth side.

Starting the match with a higher work rate than their hosts, the visitors were soon on the attack pinning Withycombe deep in their own territory. With the forwards rampant in the opening exchanges Tavistock opened the scoring after three minutes with a try from centre Doug Lloyd which Mark Hennesay converted.

The back row of Jake Phillips, Duncan Law and Ben Williams created further havoc and fly half Richard West profited with an opportunist score wide on the left.

Then teenage winger Danny Luffman scored the first of his two tries a cracking effort after the backs had moved the ball to the left Danny finished off the move. Mark Hennesay duly converted. Right winger Mark Hennesay matched his left wing colleague with a try of his own which he also converted.

Directly from the restart second row Andy Hunt caught the ball and Tavy again moved then ball quickly, Josh Sutton found Richard West and Richard moved the ball to the right wing for Danny Luffman to score his second try.

The sixth Tavy try of the half came when Duncan Law fed co fellow back row forward Ben Williams who showed impressive speed and power to make the try line. At this point the fire seemed to go out and on the stroke of half time the visitors conceded a push over try credited to home number eight John Parkin. John Pugsley added the conversion.

The score just before half time provided Withycombe with a catalyst for an improved second half and they then rattled Tavistock for 20 minutes with some excellent pressure to score two tries a second from Parking and one from Jasca Saeck with a second conversion from Pugsley. There were further Tavistock tries from Duncan Law and Doug Lloyd.