Western Counties League

Tavistock 36

Withycombe 17

TAVISTOCK recorded their second Western Counties League win in a row but not before making it hard for themselves.

The home side started slowly and were 10 points in arrears after the first 15 minutes and had to show some character to drag themselves back into the game against a side with a big set of forwards who given the opportunity were happy to play a tight game which suited the big men.

Tavistock conceded a try after 10 minutes when a missed tackle in midfield allowed Withies to set up second phase possession and scrum half Matt Garner went in for a try converted by their skipper Richard Hall. In the build up to the try Tavistock lost influential number eight Matt Cole who broke his leg. This required a reshuffle with Will Brown moving to the back row and Doug Lloyd coming on at centre for his first game since breaking a bone in his hand in early December.

Withies increased their lead to ten points after Tavistock were penalised in midfield and Richard Hall kicked the goal.

The home side eventually got their act together and pinned Withycombe in their own territory. From sustained pressure Tavistock scrum half Josh Sutton harassed his opposite number, Duncan Law stripped the ball and flanker Tom Friend drove deep into the Withycombe 22. When the ball was recycled it was moved wide and centre James Kaminski rounded the visitors' defence for the try. Fly half Richard West converted the try and added a penalty to make the score 10-10 at half time.

The second half was a very different story to the first and with Tavy using the slope to their advantage winning the half by 26-7. The Tavistock forwards dominated scrums and loose play with second row Steve Long having an exceptional game ably supported by the reshuffled back row of Tom Friend, Duncan Law and Will Brown. Given freedom and a plentiful supply of ball the backs were able to move the ball wide away from the larger Withy pack.

Centre James Kaminski grabbed a further two tries, winger Alex Moy rounded off a flowing three quarter move with a try in the right corner and full back Danny Luffman skipped through the Withies defence from broken play for the final home try. Richard West add a further three conversions.

The only blot on the Tavistock copy book was a lapse in concentration mid way through the half, between the Moy and Luffman scores, that allowed Withies skipper Richard Hall to dummy his way through the Tavistock defence for a try which he also converted.

This win takes Tavistock to fifth bottom and the new coaching team of Steve Luffman and Lee Webber will want to build on this foundation as the season progresses.

* This Saturday Tavistock visit Tiverton who are currently two places below them in the Western Counties League. Kick off 2.30pm.