Merit

Exeter Saracens

seconds 39

Tavistock seconds 22

EXETER Saracens were unable to muster a front row, so this league match had to be played with uncontested scrums. Tavistock set off at a lively pace and had notched a penalty from Nick Lane and a try from wing Simon Braithwaite in the first 10 minutes.

The visitors continued to press without managing to break through the home defence again. Midway through the half, Saracens made a rare visit upfield and a good handling move ended with a try in the left hand corner.

After 27 minutes, Tavistock suffered a double injury blow when flanker Dan Oner and centre Greg Fairchild both had to leave the field. The enforced re-organisation caused the visitors to lose the initiative and play became scrappy for the rest of the half, until right on the interval, the home side put together another good handling move and scored a converted try, to take the lead 12-8 at halftime.

Saracens started the second half with a penalty and five minutes later ran in another converted try, to extend their lead to 22-8. Tavistock forwards began to regain some control and a period of pressure ended with lock Lee Easton barging his way over for a try, which Lane converted.

The Exeter side countered with a penalty for an infringement and another converted try. Tavistock then lost influential lock, Tony Worle to injury and had Jon Bellamy sent to the bin.

Good driving from the visiting forwards saw scrum-half Niall Murphy darting from the back of a maul to force his way over for a deserved try. Lane converted.

Saracens had the final word, when a sweeping backs move saw their right winger score a converted try.

Unable to make use of their scrum firepower, Tavistock forwards Pete Davis; Mark Wheatley; Lee Easton; Jude Rotton and Joe Hair all worked hard in the loose play. Murphy; Freddy Thompson;  Lane and Simon Braithwaite all had solid games.