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North Tawton 19

Plymstock Albion Oaks 31

NORTH Tawton took on a strong visiting side and could have run them close but for a spell mid-way through the second half when they conceded two easy tries.

Plymstock Albion Oaks put Tawton under pressure from the kick-off and soon scored a try through centre Ben Hockey, finishing off a well-worked move.

The conversion by fly half Tom West was followed shortly by an excellent opportunist drop goal by West, splitting the uprights from distance to take Oaks into an early 10-0 lead.

North Tawton broke back through scrum half David Fewings, supported by Will Hawkin at centre, and won a penalty within range of the posts. A good kick by Fewings notched up the three points, but then a mistake by Tawton allowed Oaks to charge down a clearing kick and West raced through for a try, which he converted.

Tawton picked up their game and took play back to the Oaks' half where another penalty was gained. The kick by Fewings made it 6-17 in favour of Oaks at the half time whistle.

Early in the second half Tawton had a lucky break when a kick was charged down by Oaks and hacked through. Will Hawkin was quickest to react and get back to prevent a score.

A good break out by David Fewings, having an influential game at scrum half, gained them ground but left him isolated and Oaks were able to clear. Oaks set up a strong attack but foul play in a maul led to a yellow card for an Oaks player.

Shortly after a flare up in a ruck resulted in two more players being sin-binned, one from each side. The resulting penalty was struck from 27 metres by Fewings, and he notched up another three points when Oaks infringed off the ball and a penalty was awarded where the ball landed, well up the field for North Tawton.

With the score at 12-17 Tawton had pulled themselves back to a margin of one score but they lost concentration and allowed Oaks to effectively seal the game with two quick tries - one from flanker Kirk Tunnicliffe the other from Hockey — both were converted by West to make it 31-12 to Oaks.

North Tawton showed good character and did not give in. With second row James Henshaw having a stand-out game they pinned Oaks back in their five metre area and had three set scrums on the five metre line. Twice the break for the try line by David Fewings was held up but on the third occasion number eight Steve King came off the back to force his way over for the try - Fewings converted to take the scores to 19-31 in favour of Oaks.

Although Plympton Albion Oaks tried to force a comeback Tawton were spirited in their defence and held their own to keep the scores unchanged at the final whistle.