Crediton 2nd XV 26
Tavistock 2nd XV 10
IN conditions that resembled Dante?s Inferno, Tavistock put in one of the performances of the season for little reward, losing to higher league opposition.
Despite starting with 14 men ? due to some of their players getting lost in north Devon! ? Tavistock easily contained the home side and looked the most threatening with domination in the scrums and lineouts.
However, Crediton scored first, latching onto a loose pass when Tavistock were attacking to run over in the corner.
Even with the numerical disadvantage, Tavistock coped admirably and only last-ditch defence prevented them from scoring in the first 20 minutes.
But after 20 minutes the late arriving players brought Tavistock up to full strength and immediately the away side capitalised with a pushover try from Paul Edwards.
The remainder of the half saw some outstanding individual skill from centre Fenelon Silvest and scrum half Paul Allen, both a constant threat with their sniping runs, but the strong winds increased and conditions deteriorated to an extent that the game became a lottery.
In the second half Crediton coped better with the weather that ruined Tavistock?s open and expansive game, and ran in two tries in quick succession, the first a lucky bounce from a crossfield kick, the other from a miss-tackle out wide.
The home side proceeded to strangle the game, kicking three penalties to end the match as a contest.
To Tavistock?s credit the team dug deep and had the final say with another pushover try from ten yards out.
But it was scant reward for their efforts and left them cursing the awful weather which played the ultimate role in depriving them of the win their play deserved.