Western Counties West

Devonport Services 19

Tavistock 35

TAVISTOCK produced their best performance of the season as they recorded an emphatic win away to Devonport Services. Bolstered by the return of several players from injury, including captain Dougie Lloyd, they showed their cutting edge in all areas and came away with the bonus point after running in five tries.

The first points came from the trusty boot of fly half Rich Goldsby-West as he stroked over a penalty as Services strayed offside. The home side had the chance to level almost immediately but the penalty drifted wide.

Tavistock were forcing the home side back and following a maul they reached within five metres of the try line but could not get over. Tavistock then increased their lead as centre Viliame Masirewa picked up a loose ball in the home midfield and accelerated through the lines of defence to touchdown.

The second try soon followed as Goldsby-West put winger Lewis Edwards away and his weaving run got him into the 22 before the ball was swiftly moved across the pitch for Danny Luffman to outpace the defence to touchdown. Goldsby-West converted.

Tavistock were performing well in the scrum and lineout enabling scrum half Josh Sutton to give good ball to the backs who looked dangerous all match. A couple of penalties enabled the home side to work their way into the Tavistock 22 and following a lineout five metres from the try line they drove over to score.

The Tavistock pack was working well and had the upper hand over their opponents with Andrew Schuttkacker and Andrew Griffiths consistently stealing the ball in the rucks and mauls.

As half time approached, a Services penalty failed to find touch and Tavistock ran the ball back into the 22 to set up a scrum which resulted in a penalty for the visitors as the Services scrum half strayed offside. Goldsby-West put over the kick to give Tavistock a 13 point half time lead.

The second half started with the home side putting the pressure on but the Tavistock tackling was tremendous and any threat was soon snuffed out. A loose ball from a home lineout on halfway was picked up by Josh Sutton and he put Harry Dawe away. His perfectly timed pass enabled Danny Luffman to get down the wing into the 22 where his pass to Viliame Masirewa enabled him to break through a tackle to claim his second try of the match. Services came straight back and after Tavistock were caught offside in their 22, they worked the ball to the corner and drove over for a try which they converted.

Tavistock coach Mike Lewis made changes with Josh Sutton being replaced by Henry Cunningham at scrum half and Danny Luffman on the wing by Ben Hadfield but this did not interrupt Tavistock's flow as they worked their way up the pitch.

Tavistock's bonus point try soon came as another loose ball from a Services lineout was picked up by Josh Langdon who set up a ruck. As the home defence were trying to organise themselves, Henry Cunningham peeled away from the ruck and drove through a tackle to touchdown.

Tavistock now had to do some defending as Services tried to find a way through their defence but some tremendous defensive tackling kept them at bay.

Services reduced the lead as a loose ball was picked up enabling them to outpace the Tavistock defence and go round under the posts to touchdown. Tavistock now made another change as front row Martin Budden, who had another excellent game, was replaced by Jim Brown.

Another penalty for Tavistock enabled them to set up a maul but Ben Hadfield was driven out as he went for the corner. With time running out Tavistock sensed that they could increase their lead and following a scrum in the Services 22, scrum half Henry Cunningham's sudden burst caught the home side out and although tackled his stretch enabled him to get his second and Tavistock's fifth try. Richard Goldsby-West put over the conversion to complete a thoroughly deserved win for Tavistock.

Although this was a tremendous team performance, Andrew Schuttkacker was Tavistock's man of the match for his all round performance.

On Saturday, November 23 Tavistock first team are home to Ivybridge, kick- off 2.30pm.