Merit

Exmouth third 8

Tavistock seconds 12

EXMOUTH looked to their big, heavy forwards to dominate proceedings, but the lighter, more mobile Tavistock side were in no mood to let their opponents get the upper hand.

The Tavistock pack had to work hard to contain the home pack in the scrums while the lineouts were also keenly contested. The narrow pitch did not give the Tavistock threequarters the room to exploit their extra pace, however, the first half was fairly even, with both defences holding out.

Exmouth were penalised several times, for halting attacks illegally and Ewen Smith, taking over the kicking duties for Tavistock kicked three penalties, to one in reply, to give Tavistock a 9-3 lead at half-time.

The second half opened with a fine attacking handling move from Tavistock after another Exmouth infringement. Ewen Smith kicked the penalty, to extend the lead to 12-3. The visitors then spent much of the rest of the half defending against a continuous barrage of forward drives from the home side.

Exmouth pierced the Tavistock defence after 60 minutes, for an unconverted try, but superb tackling and covering from the visitors prevented any further scoring, leaving Tavistock victors at the end a hard fought match, by 12-8.

For Tavistock, the front row of Joe Hair, skipper Will Tomkins and Dan Clarke put in a good shift and won a couple of crucial scrums against the head.

Locks Patrick Hobbs and Scott Pluckrose worked hard in the loose and lineout. In the back row Jake Chinn and Mark Friend made a number of good breaks and tackled anything that moved.

Wings Ben Neale and Dave Goodspeed made some telling runs, without managing to get through the final defender. The whole Tavistock squad defended everything that Exmouth threw at them and hung on for a well earned victory.