Devon 2 League Old Technicians 14 North Tawton 10 GOOD early pressure by North Tawton?s pack nearly brought them a score early in the first half. The rucking and mauling game was impressive, and Old Techs had to defend well to keep North Tawton out. Old Techs were also giving away too many infringements allowing full back Tom Davis to clear upfield with penalties to touch. This brought Tawton back into the attack and an excellent phase of picking and driving by their number 8 Steve King and prop Gary Dennis took them back into striking distance. Again Old Techs were able to hold out. With about 30 minutes gone and no score yet, play moved back into Tawton?s half where a rumbling drive from the Old Techs pack leading to the first try, converted by fly half Jimmy Carter. Tawton were immediately back in the attack and starting to dominate the set pieces, pushing Old Techs off their own ball inside their 22 metre area and causing them to scramble to the defence of their line. Late in the half a penalty was awarded to Tawton from 30 metres out, but the kick failed to go over, leaving the half time score at 7-nil to the home side. Kicking off for the second half, North Tawton were playing into the sun. They were straight back into the offensive and from a line out close to the Old Techs line Andy Pyle, captaining the side again this week, broke through for a try, only to be held up over the line. Not to be denied the scrum once again set up a good drive from a set scrum and a deft feed out from scrum half Martin Friggens to Alfie May, coming through from centre on a crash ball run, found the gap between the defending scrum half and his fly half and went through for a deserved try. The conversion was unsuccessful. The first replacement for North Tawton was for Adam Davis, playing an ever improving game at hooker, to be replaced by his father Neil, which reinforced the effectiveness of the scrum. Gary Dennis was to the fore with his rampaging runs at the opposition, and Tawton were starting to cause problems for the home side in loose play as well, with deft touches of skill by flanker Richard Lethbridge keeping Old Techs pinned into their half. Somewhat against the run of play, Old Techs staged a breakout and took play back to the North Tawton line. An errant 22 metre drop out fell to the hands of Old Techs centre Doyle again, who cut through the wrong-footed Tawton defence for his second try, again converted by the fly half Carter. The final score was fittingly created by another Gary Dennis break out, causing a scrum close to the Old Techs line. The Tawton drive disrupted the defensive line and allowed Richard Lethbridge to scramble over the line for his try. This went unconverted.
