Plymouth Albion U15s 5
Tavistock U15s 62
ON an unseasonably sunny October day Tavistock put a combination team together with Taunton U15s to play Plymouth Albion.
The majority of the forwards were from Taunton and the backs from Tavistock. This gave the semblance of a well-co-ordinated team, which however contained five players new to rugby this season.
This was a workmanlike combination for the forwards foraged and maintained possession throughout the whole match, giving the fleet footed backs space to run at Albion.
In the first half, the scrums were a little untidy, but the front row including loose head prop Kim Upcott was soon in control and quick ball started to come to the Tavistock backs.
Florence Rodgers at the base of the scrum, darting and diving, broke past the first line of defence on several occasions to pass to Amy Neave or Annabel Longden, both capable of fast direct running, which broke down the Plymouth defence time after time.
With the overall strength in all departments and rapid off-loading on the wide pitch, it was not long before the forwards worked the ball to the right in close play, but then a quick change of direction gave Lauren Dawe the wide open space to race through to score the first of her five tries.
Tries then came regularly throughout the match with two from Flo Rodgers, two from Annabel Longden and two from Amy Neave. Annabel Longden also converted six of the tries.
On the wings Lucy Jones and Lilly Hilson were in the thick of it in their second match, and will become important try scorers with their speed and agility. It was notable that they never allowed the Plymouth backs to get past their defensive line by good solid tackling.
Plymouth scored a consolation try ten minutes from time after entering the Tavistock 22 for only the second time in the game. They worked hard in the forwards and eventually bundled the ball over the line with a powerful drive.
The player of the match with her tally of five tries was Lauren Dawe and the award for the tackler of the match, who stopped most of the break-outs from Plymouth, was Amy Neave.