Tavistock RFC secs 24

Bideford thirds 20

BIDEFORD struck early with a penalty after poor discipline from the home side. The visitors started too fast for the home side who left gaps in defence to leak a Bideford score under the posts giving them a 10-0 lead.

The first score for the home side came from skipper McDowall who charged through the defence just left of the posts leaving an easy kick for fly half Charlie Furnivall. Infringments by Bideford led to a penalty to Tavistock which was taken quickly by Furnivall who showed quick thinking and went over for his sides second try. Bideford came back but the Tavistock held firm with great defence work from Rory Gilmore and Jake Chinn and the home side went into the break 12-10 up.

In the second half Bideford pounding the home sides defensive line and let to Bideford taking the lead. However great work by Tavistock forwards led to their third try with McDowall showing strength to shrug off defenders to make it 19-15. As both sides began to tire Bideford made some telling breaks only to be denied by good cover defence by the home side. Some poor discipline by Tavy put them a man down when full back Braithwaite was sin binned for a trip on a Bideford player. Bideford eventually got over the line to give them a one point lead with 10 minutes to go.

Tavistock put their guests under pressure from the kick and some telling runs by Braithwaite back on after his sin binning and right wing Ben Hadfield put them in their opponents half. The ball was eventually spun out wide to front rower Paddy Warlow on the wing to power through two defenders to score and put his side in the lead.

Despite Bideford's efforts the home defence held strong and a big tackle from a Tavistock forward forcing a Bideford player to knock on gave the referee no option but to blow for full time .