Honiton 17

Tavistock 31

TAVISTOCK secured promotion as champions from division 1 to the Cornwall and Devon division with this excellent win in what was a bruising but clean encounter at Honiton on Saturday.

Tavistock played so well in the first 30 minutes that the match as a contest was over by half-time when they held a 26-0 lead.

First to score after ten minutes was centre Duncan Law who opened the Honiton defence with a typically aggressive break.

From the restart Dean Shipton caught the ball and drove forward to set up a ruck just inside the Tavistock half. The ball was recycled and Steve Rush continued the move. When the ball was moved to the backs they held up just short of the Honiton line. Tavistock kept up the pressure but were forced into touch by the defence. From this lineout Paul Greenhill pounced on a loose throw in by Honiton to score from close range.

The restart was a carbon copy of the last with forwards and backs linking to again test the Honiton defence.

The next score did not come from the backs but from a forward, Steve Rush, who used all his power and experience to force his way over the line.

Duncan Law scored a second try after 30 minutes after, again using his pace and power. Fly half Josh Sutton converted three of the four tries.

During the final ten minutes of the first half Tavistock continued to batter at the Honiton line with Andy Hunt, Darren Cole, Tom Hurdwell and skipper Lee Greatrex all denied a score.

The second half started well for Honiton when they scored a try on the Tavistock right through Ed Platt, with a conversion from Alex Bralsford. After 20 minutes they reduced the arrears further with a try from Mike Bowley.

Tavistock attempted to settle nerves with a penalty goal, which Josh Sutton pushed wide and Lee Greatrex was unlucky to have what seemed a perfectly good try disallowed after he had pounced on a loose ball from a knock-on by Honiton in their own in-goal area. Centre Mike Lyddon eventually settled things when he raced in to score after the ball had been moved swiftly to the left in the Honiton 22.

Honiton did score a third try right on full time but it was too late to stop Tavistock celebrating their victory and their elevation to the Cornwall and Devon league for the first time.

Easter Saturday sees Tavistock back in cup action when they entertain Cullompton at Sandy Park in the semi-final of the Devon Junior Cup, kick off 3pm. The winners will travel to face Honiton away in the final.