Devon North East League North Tawton 29 Sidmouth 12 THIS was a deserved win for the combination side composed this week of North Tawton 2nd team and a Crediton player. With snow covering half the pitch the pre-match snowballing was followed by a scrappy start as the teams came to terms with the conditions and a very slippery ball skidding across the surface. After 10 minutes a break by North Okes centre Alfie May gave the home side a penalty close to the Sidmouth line. A feed out to Tom Davis coming through from full back onto the right wing resulted in the first try. The conversion from far out drifted to the right of the posts leaving North Okes 5 points up. Early on the North Okes scrum settled well with father and son Neil and Adam Davis at props, making up a family trio with Tom. The big Sidmouth pack were soon into the game however, and their three-quarters put in some good kicks to gain field position. Their strong running centre Glen Channing made some telling breaks but the North Okes defence was tackling well, notably centres May and Simon Metcalfe, which broke up the attacks. An excellent run down the right wing by North Okes? young player Simon Quick took the home side back to the Sidmouth 5 metre line. From the scrum and maul which developed Alfie May was nearly through but was penalised for not releasing in the tackle. A quickly-taken penalty tap by North Okes scrum half Martin Friggens to Simon Quick was slipped back inside to hooker Phil Elkins who broke through for a try. The long-range conversion was missed and with a scuffed penalty attempt by Sidmouth also failing the half time score remained at 10-nil to North Okes. Soon after the re-start an excellent sequence of passing play by the home side made the space for Simon Quick to race in for his first try; the conversion by captain Paul Fewings was successful taking his side to 17 points ahead. The response by Sidmouth was to up their game and put the North Okes line under great pressure. They were awarded several penalties as the home side defended against the mauling drives of the Sidmouth forwards who crossed the line twice, but were unable to ground the ball. Somewhat against the current run of play an interception by North Okes? Elkins, a flanker playing at hooker, carved open the Sidmouth line and a run of about 70 metres was completed with a pass to supporting centre Zak Matravers who went over for the try. The conversion was missed. Sidmouth came straight back into the attack with a long penalty kick making touch 10 metres from the North Okes line. This time they sustained the pressure until they were able to set up a 5 metre drive and centre Glen Channing was able to drive over for a deserved try. The conversion attempt was charged down by Adam Hooper, using his speed and height to good effect. The score remained at 22-5 for the home side. Having got onto the score sheet Sidmouth came back into the attack and North Okes were penalised on several occasions for infringements. The resulting penalties allowed Sidmouth to take full advantage and flanker Vince Bastyan broke from a quick penalty pass about 5 metres out to score their second try, converted by Channing. The fact that the visitors were now only 10 points adrift focussed the minds of the North Okes squad and they attacked with more purpose. A break from the scrum by number 8 Neville Phillips nearly gave a second try for May, but the ball was knocked forward. It was Phillips himself who scored the final try by driving straight back into the attack from the restart and bundling over the Sidmouth line. Fewings converted to give a final score of 29 points to 12 for North Okes, and the satisfaction of seeing the mixture of young and experienced players working so well together.