Western Counties League

Tiverton 37

Tavistock RFC 0

TAVISTOCK suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at Tiverton on Saturday, but this needed to be tempered with the fact that no less than 10 players with regular first 15 experience this season were unavailable through injury or other personal reasons.

This defeat was a set back to the Tavistock team after two wins in a row and they will be looking to get back to winning ways in their fight to avoid relegation from the Western Counties League.

Tavistock started the game well and put pressure on the Tiverton line and had the opportunity to go ahead early but a penalty goal from Richard West was off target. Tiverton then went ahead after 15 minutes with a successful penalty kick from Jimmy Atkins.

Tavistock continued to secure primary ball from scrum and lineout, which functioned really well with the link between hooker Patey and jumpers Hunt, Bruna and Long providing quality ball. It was at second phase where Tiverton had the edge on Tavistock turning over possession and providing their backs with a plentiful supply of ball in open field. The visitors were not helped in this respect losing Tom Friends to the sin bin for ten minutes in the first half.

Tiverton scored ten points whilst Tavy were down to 13 players with a try from Jeff Robinson and a conversion and penalty from Atkins and on the half hour extended their lead to with a try from number eight Adrian Jary converted by Atkins.

As half time approached Tavistock made inroads into the Tiverton defence but were thwarted when after taking a quick tap penalty the ball was turned over and the home team turned defence into attack.

The second half was all about damage limitation for Tavistock with Will Tomkins coming into the back row. In open play Tavistock forwards Steve Long and James Bruna were both impressive taking the ball at the Tiverton defence but that apart there was little for the travelling Tavistock fans to cheer.

Tiverton scored two tries in the second period Robinson and Atkins with Atkins converting one and adding a further penalty goal.