Devon 1

Tavistock 58

Torrington 5

AFTER beating higher league opposition Wellington the previous week in the Powergen National Knockout Cup, Tavistock were in imperious form for the first hour, running up 58 points without reply.

But they then took their feet off the gas and allowed Torrington to claim a try - from there to the end of the game they were unable to reassert their earlier superiority. But this victory keeps the pressure on rivals OPMs at the top of the league.

Tavistock opened the scoring early in the first half when scrum half Lee Greatrex and winger Josh Sutton combined to put Sutton in for a try in the right hand corner. Neil Evans extended Tavistock?s lead with a penalty.

Number eight Jude Rotton should have increased the lead after a break from the base on an attacking five-metre scrum but he lost the ball before he could touch down.

But Jude soon made amends for the error when he powered over for a try. Further tries were added before half-time via prop Rob Monk and centre Duncan Law. Evans added the extras to all three tries to give Tavistock a 29-0 lead at the break.

Evans opened the second half scoring with a penalty goal after the Tavistock forwards, among whom Paul Greenhill was outstanding in the loose, had exerted pressure on the Torrington defence.

Further Tavistock pressure from the forwards saw hooker

Sleep rob team-mate Matt Cole in a forward drive and crash over the try-line from short range.

The forwards continued to have the upper hand with young prop Tom Hurdwell performing well and Andy Hunt and Darren Cole soaring in the lineouts to ensure possession.

Young left winger Ben Neale was next to score. Tavistock won the ball in midfield and after quick handling among the backs they made space on the left wing for Neale to scorch in at the corner.

Rotton grabbed his second try after a trademark powerful run through the centre of the Torrington defence. He was brought down just short of the line but his momentum took him over for the score.

The Tavistock backs were running the opposition ragged with Mark Baker and Mike Lyddon both making ground.

The final Tavistock try was a second for centre Law. Evans converted all the second half scores.

This week Tavistock travel to Devonport High School Old Boys hoping to continue their surge at the top of the league.