North Tawton 8
St Columb 10
IN North Tawton's first league game of the season, Sponsors' Day saw a good crowd and the bonus of a fine day.
North Tawton in the first 30 minutes certainly lived up to the occasion. The linking of the backs and forwards plus some excellent handling saw them take the game to the visitors.
It was not surprising when North Tawton took the lead in a classic move and it looked as through it was going to be their afternoon.
But St Columb slowly came back into the game and began to put North Tawton under pressure.
North Tawton soaked this up with some good tackling and clearing the line with good kicks to touch.
North Tawton finally cracked, nearing the half-time whistle when scrum half Andrew Melhuish made a sniping run to score for St Columb, leaving the score at half-time 8-5 to the home side.
After the break Brown Cardoo came off and Martin Friggins took over at scrum half, Phil Whale moved to centre and Andy Pyle came on for captain Neil Peters.
It was a scrappy second half with neither side gaining control. The game was up for grabs with some fine performances in the North Tawton side highlighted by Liam Sharpe, Phil Arnold and Phil Whale.
North Tawton's only chance came with a Joe Fewings penalty miss and the game ended in a disputed try by St Columb.
But North Tawton can take great heart and have plenty to build on for the rest of the season.
This week Plymouth Civil Service at home, 3pm in the first round of the Power Gem Vase.