Devon 2 league
Plymouth Argaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
North Tawton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
THE strong Southerly breeze produced a disruptive cross-wind across Argaum's Roborough pitch on Saturday.
This was surprisingly dry and hard for this stage of the season and both the wind and the pitch were going to have an effect on the match.
Despite an early, converted try for Arguam much of the first half was a desultory affair with a distinct 'end of season' atmosphere.
Tawton had fielded a much-changed scrum for this match, with only two players in their normal positions and the early scrums were dominated by Argaum, culminating in their try.
The line-outs were working well for Tawton, however, with captain Neil Peters flying high to take a good ball on the Argaum 22 metre line and Tawton pressurised the home side's line and came up with a penalty decision. Ross Lawrence over-compensated for the strong wind and a good kick passed the wrong side of the left-hand post.
On about thirty minutes a crash onto the hard ground left Tawton's Ryan King with an injured shoulder, having moved from the wing to the scrum today. Replacement Larry Taylor, Tawton's head coach, came on into the centre and further changes to the pack took place as Simon Fear swapped to the flank. As half time approached Argaum set up a good mauling drive and scored a second try in the corner, too far out for the conversion attempt into the wind. The score remained at 12-0 to Arguam at the break.
Early in the second half Argaum extended their lead with a further try following a set scrum close to the Tawton line, but again the conversion failed. The kick-off produced a good exchange of long kicks, well placed despite the cross-wind and ending with play back where it started on the half way line. From the lineout the ball was fed to Phil Wale, Tawton's fly-half, who put an excellent kick deep into the Argaum 22 metre area, following up fast. The defender made the mistake of thinking he could take on the tackle of Wale and was duly dumped. The resulting ruck almost led to a try for Tawton's Taylor, but he was held up over the line. With their fire now ignited Tawton capitalised on a 5 metre penalty, the threes spinning the ball wide to winger Lawrence who fed full back Paul Fewings looping on the outside to dive in for the visitors' first try. Again the conversion was defeated by the wind.
The game became one dominated by the forward strength of Argaum and they began to build a lead. Tawton struck back with a characteristic short range, driving try from Charlie Ewen stemming from a well-timed pass from Wale. In the last 15 minutes Tawton lost a second front row player to injury as Henry Chalcraft left the field to be replaced by Graham King and further shuffling of the pack took place.
Argaum scored further tries, one from a fortuitous interception and with the wind dropping slightly conversions were also going over; they built a lead of 36-10. Towards the end of the match a high, hanging kick from Larry Taylor, the sort of kick conditions had been crying out for, allowed Tawton to move up field as it bounced nicely into touch.
Having got back into the game Tawton pressed to the Argaum line, and the defenders gave away a penalty close to the line. The expected Tawton forward drive did not materialise as the ball was moved wide to the left by scrum half Martin Friggins and shipped on neatly by flanker Dave Quick to feed Paul Fewings, again appearing on the left wing. He chose his spot before dotting down for his second and North Tawton's third try, but again the conversion failed.
Arguam had the last say with a final try from close in to the Tawton line. The conversion was good to leave the final score at 43-15. North Tawton look back on a tough season in the league, struggling for consistency in the team, but with hopes high that the new younger players who have been a part of the set-up this year will give them a good start to next season.
The final match this year will be a home game against Exeter Saracens on April 24.