Crediton 12
IN horrible conditions at Sandy Park on Saturday Tavistock got their Cornwall and Devon league season off the mark by ending a run of three straight league defeats.
The foundation for victory was a fine all round team performance with the side wanting victory most coming out on top in the end.
Crediton were first off the mark however when John Smith, their second row forward, charged down a clearance kick in the Tavistock in-goal and grabbed the try.
Tavistock worked hard to get back in the game and despite being put under enormous pressure at the scrummage the front row of Tim Child, Ben Sutton and Matt Martin secured sufficient clean ball. This allowed number eight and skipper Jake Phillips to make the hard ground and supported by his flankers Duncan Law and Will Brown often got Tavistock into good field position.
Matt Witcher converted two penalties to put Tavistock into the lead then debutant fly half James Kiminsky jinked through the Crediton defence for a try. Witcher converted to put Tavistock 13-5 up at the break. Unfortunately for Tavistock Kiminsky is unavailable for the next three weeks as he's off to the United States.
Playing against the wind in the second half Tavistock were forced to keep the ball in hand and their driving around the fringes and in midfield kept the pressure on Crediton.
Midway through the half Tavistock lost scrum half Mike Deebner and this necessitated a reorganisation in the backs with Matt Witcher moving to scrum half and Andrew Smerdon to the centre.
Tavistock however kept up the pressure and after Tom Ewing drove the ball up to the Crediton line he found Mark Deebner in support for the try. Witcher added the conversion.
Crediton then threw everything at Tavy in the final quarter and were rewarded with a consolation try on the stroke of full time, which they converted.
l This Saturday Tavistock travel to Famouth in the Cornwall and Devon league. Kick off 3pm.