North Tawton 50

Crediton Seconds 14

IT was the perfect setting for a game of running rugby at Taw Meadows, and that is what this friendly match against old rivals Crediton produced.

From the kick off North Tawton maintained the pressure, and got an early try through number eight Steve King, breaking off the back of a loose maul in characteristic style, keeping up his push for top try scorer of the season.

Crediton responded well and a good chip through took them to the Tawton five metre line but they could not turn position into points. They took their chance soon after however with an excellent individual break by fly half John Downe, who picked up a loose ball on his own 22 metre line and threaded his way through Tawton's lax defence for a try. The conversion by scrum half Gareth Kinch took Crediton into the lead.

Following a good set scrum by Tawton the ball was fed out to centre David Fewings whose balanced running saw him step through the defence for a try, which he converted. This kept him in contention as the other player vying for top try scorer.

However, from the re-start Crediton hit back with a try from left wing Nathan Roncelli, who slipped his tackle and ran in the try; the conversion by Kinch took Crediton back into the lead at 14-12.

The neat three-quarter play by the Crediton team and the interplay of their passing was a key feature of the first half.

North Tawton almost got another score as Andrew North, guesting from Clovis Nomads of New Mexico, USA, made a break and side-stepped the defence only to be brought down close to the line.

They had the final say in the half with another score for Fewings from a tap penalty about 10 metres out. The ball was fed out and he fended two tackles and found a gap round the outside to go through for the try and conversion leaving the half time score at 19-14 to Tawton.

Two tries early in the second spell effectively decided the match. The first started with a well-worked break by Tawton fly half Rob North, who off-loaded to Fewings in close support to go in under the posts. The second came from ball slipped out of loose play to Fewings on the right flank who ran in for his hat trick. Both were converted by Fewings to move Tawton to 33-14.

Crediton were not out of it and kicked a penalty for lineout position close to Tawton's 10 metre line, but Tawton cleared up the loose ball from the lineout as Alfie May broke out of defence and made good ground.

There followed a good build up by the whole Tawton team with some good 15-man rugby leading to a try for Simon Quick, which he converted to take Tawton to 40 points.

Crediton never gave up and their spirit was exemplified by two key try-saving tackles by wing Rowan Locke.

In both instances Tawton's Alex Denis had broken through and looked set for a score only to be tracked down by Locke and grounded.

With the benefit of more substitutions Tawton ended the match the stronger and ran in two more tries, one for Tom McGrattan breaking off the back of a scrum close to the line.

The second, and fourth of the day, was for David Fewings who received the ball from a loose maul about 15 metres out and ran across the face of the Crediton defensive line until a gap opened up and he was able to break through and score. Both conversions were missed leaving the final score at 50-14.

l This Saturday sees the 125th anniversary dinner at the Taw Meadows clubhouse with the annual meeting and trophy presentations the following week (May 7), with possibly a barbecue.