Devon two League North Tawton 33 Old Technicians 12 THE first half scoreline of seven-nil to North Tawton reflected how even the match was at that point, and it was the second half performance that turned the match into a well-deserved win for the home side. A catalogue of errors by North Tawton in the early stages saw them penalised and that, combined with some impressive driving mauls by the Old Tecs pack kept the Plymouth side in the match. A missed penalty kick to the posts during the first ten minutes did them no favours however, as North Tawton survived an early attack on their line. After a spell when nothing seemed to be going right, the Tawton three-quarter line finally started to improve their passing accuracy and inside centre Stuart Bowker put David Fewings into space. He sprinted through for the first try, which he also converted. As half time approached a good break down the right wing by Tawton?s Alfie May resulted in an attacking lineout for the home side about five metres from the Old Tecs? line. Strong defending by the Plymouth pack kept the attack out. It was Old Tecs who opened the scoring in the first half however, as a tap penalty close to Tawton?s line was passed out to right wing Ashley Cheetham who slipped through a disorganised defence to score a try in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving North Tawton ahead by 7-5. In the second half Old Tecs continued to do well in the loose play, but North Tawton came good in the set scrums and their three quarters started to live well off the ball provided by an advancing pack. The Tawton front row came into their own with Tom Phillips, Adam Davis and Pete Wonnacott establishing a solid platform for their second row and giving the Tawton pack a considerable edge in the set scrums. Off the back of one of these scrums Peter Gyde chipped over the defenders, the ball bounced into the in-goal area, which the scrum half dived onto it to score his first try for the club. Fewings converted to make it 14-5 to Tawton. New player Ryan Brentall came on as substitute in the scrum for Kev Avery and was soon in action as the Tawton team was pushed back up into Old Tecs? territory by a long kick from fly half Chris Martin. A scrum about ten metres from the visitors? line broke up into a maul and Tawton?s number eight Steve King muscled his way over to score. Fewings again was on target with the conversion as the score rose to 21-5 for North Tawton. Man of the match James Henshaw had to leave the pitch with a shoulder injury and his replacement Mike Symons came on and within minutes he was touching down a try. North Tawton?s last try came after another strong-running break by winger Alfie May. Fewings took the final pass and crossed for his second try and duly completed the score with the conversion. Old Tecs made a belated comeback and took a driving maul to within five metres of North Tawton?s line. They earned a penalty against the defending players and opted for the tapped ball. Flanker Jamie Venner drove across the line to score a consolation try in the closing moments, which was converted by fly half Ian Young . l Next week North Tawton travel to Plymouth to face Plympton Victoria.
