Devon 2 League

North Tawton 3

Prince Rock/Woodland Fort 38

THIS was the re-arranged meeting between the top and bottom sides in Devon 2 League, the original match falling foul of the recent wet weather. The pitch was in good order but a brisk NW wind blowing down the pitch was to have its effect on the kicking.

The home side started well and the brothers Zac and Dell Matravers at centre and left wing respectively were soon in the thick of the action as Tawton pushed up into Prince Rock?s territory.

The first score was to Prince Rock from a penalty kick close to half way. With the following wind scrum half Dan Leeson was able to clear the bar and put the visitors into a 3-nil lead.

The strong Rock pack were starting to dominate the set scrums. This kept Tawton?s flankers busy and Phil Wonnacott was once again playing an excellent game from this position.

A try was initially prevented by good covering from Ross Lawrence at full back, but Rock recycled the ball well and they scored their first try through centre Ian Potter. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 8-nil after about 15 minutes.

A period of sustained pressure close to Tawton?s try line required all-out defence by the home team. There followed an unfortunate collision which resulted in Rock?s scrum half Leeson suffering a severely damaged cheek bone.

The extended delay for this injury had a subduing effect on the remainder of the half.

There was an exchange of penalty kicks; the first was to Prince Rock, in front of North Tawton?s posts, converted by Paul Hatswell, who had moved to scrum-half.

The second was approaching half time, as Tawton set up an attack into Rock?s half. Paul Fewings, who was having a very good game at his favoured position of fly half, kicked a good penalty against the wind. The score was 11-3 to Prince Rock at half time.

Prince Rock were on the offensive from the kick-off in the second half. Progress was broken up through good tackling by Tawton?s Alfie May and a neat piece of interplay involving flanker Phil Wonnacott and winger Dell Matravers.

A shoulder injury to Tawton?s second row Andy Pyle resulted from a Rock player diving in to a maul, and replacement Steve Hann came on. A further sweeping three?s move brought Prince Rock close to Tawton?s try line only to be foiled by excellent cover tackling by full back Ross Lawrence and winger Ryan King.

Prince Rock were in the ascendancy and notched up a further try soon afterwards, this one for replacement forward Joff Wheatley, but again the conversion failed. North Tawton played themselves back into the match with some excellent individual efforts as Rock took their foot off the gas for a period.

They became frustrated with Tawton?s tenacious defence and determined drives and the ref?s whistle started to dominate proceedings.

Tawton were unable to capitalise on their own good play and gradually the strength and organisation of the Prince Rock pack took its toll.

With the injury delay darkness was closing in and the training lights came on with twenty minutes still to play. Tawton lost a player to the sin bin and had to play one short in the scrum.

In the last quarter of the game the visitors were able to run in 3 more tries, one by centre Ian Potter following a planned penalty move and another when the Tawton defence was stretched across the field by a Rock three quarter move. This was converted and a final try by Paul Hatswell following another scrum push over sealed the victory for Prince Rock 38 to 3.

The team on the pitch certainly gave a good account of themselves against a side who have regularly been notching up scores in the fifties.

They are at home on Taw Meadow again next week against Old Technicians, kicking off at 2.30pm.