South West Cup

Devonport U18s girls 5

Tavistock U18s 27

TAVISTOCK's first game of the season was a first round match against Devonport. As usual Tavistock are clustering with Newquay and Helston.

A steady breeze blew along the pitch softened by the torrential rain of the previous week. Tavistock chose to play into the wind in the first half.

As a new combination, initially, the co-ordination between the Tavistock players was lacking. However, the forwards stuck to their task of winning ground by keeping the ball close and edging towards the Devonport line. With a barrelling run, Chloe Dawe went to ground in the Devonport 22. The ball was rucked and went to Amber Barnicoat who charged close to the try line and managed to offload to Alice Mills-Hicks to touch down for the first points.

After the restart, the lack of co-ordination pressurised the backs, who lost ground until with the ball went loose in the Tavistock goal area. A penalty was awarded to Tavistock and after a short period of time reversed to give Devonport a try and make it 5-5 at half time.

At the restart with the breeze still blowing Tavistock continued their forward domination and Amber Barncoat scored again on the far right.

Within five minutes Ebony Jefferies, at scrum half, picked the ball from the base of the scrum and punted the ball into the empty space behind the Devonport backs. The kick made 40 metres and neatly bounced into touch inside the Devonport 22. The effect was impressive: heads dropped at Devonport and Tavistock's tired legs were rejuvenated. Soon the ball came out to the Tavistock backs with Lizzie Crocker making the break. Good backing up put the ball into the hands of Esme Bartholemew on the wing who broke through two tackles to scamper down the line to score in the corner.

Tavistock won set pieces and were voracious in claiming loose ball. From a turnover, Lizzie Crocker scored a converted try and one final try by Ebony Jeffries to round off the scoring.

This was a convincing first win in the cup for Tavistock and bodes well for the season.