Devon two league Totnes 60 North Tawton 3 NORTH Tawton had eight changes to the team that won the Welham Cup at Okehampton last week but Tawton struggled to maintain their form against a well-drilled set of Totnes three-quarters. Two tries early in the first half from centre Mike Bishop and flanker Adam Shaw were converted by scrum half Mark Hooper to give the home side 14 points. In between these scores Tawton penetrated the Totnes 22 metre area following a penalty kick and good loose play by flanker Richard Yendell. This set up a maul close in and off the back of that fly half David Fewings chipped in a neat drop goal to get his side on the score board. It was the Totnes centre pairing of Bishop and Andy Rive who were running the show and exploited every gap they could. Good tackling by the Tawton team kept them at bay and the next tries for Totnes came from set plays around the scrum close to Tawton's line. First it was Mark Hooper who broke round the side to cross the line then flanker Alec Smith was credited with a push over try. Both these were not converted but Totnes moved into a 24-3 lead. The North Tawton pack were again working well and competing in all areas of the set and loose play. They helped take play back into the Totnes half as Tawton responded with a good spell of play. The breakthrough did not come however, and a long penalty clearance pushed Tawton back to a line out 10 metres out. Totnes knocked on from this but the clearance from the resulting Tawton scrum was charged down by Andy Rive who went over for a try. This one was converted to give a half time score of 31 – 3 to Totnes. North Tawton made a number of changes at half time, bringing on Chris Martin to fly half and re-aligning the backs to move Keith Jones to flanker. This was still not enough to stop two further Totnes tries, one for Bishop and one for top try scorer and prop Tim Woodward. Both were not converted but the lead stretched to 41 – 3. This time Tawton's response was more emphatic and following a concerted set scrum drive which pushed Totnes off their own ball and took them back almost 15 metres. The Totnes line was now vulnerable and a set scrum five metres out for Tawton almost led to a try for winger Dave Quick but the close-quarters pass was too high and the moment passed. At no stage did the Tawton squad accept defeat; even though the Totnes threes scored three more tries in the last quarter of the match (two of which were converted), through full back Mark Binnie, Bishop - for his hat-trick - and Rive. Tawton mounted a final attack but their advantage was short-lived however as Totnes pushed them back with long clearance kicks using the brisk wind to good effect. Totnes must now be strong contenders for top of the Devon two league. The best play for North Tawton once again came from the tackling game with Chris Martin and Gary Dennis prominent, shaded for man of the match award this week by flanker Richard Yendell.