Tavistock 31

Teignmouth 31

A LATE try by the visitors salvaged a draw from a game which had everything including a red card for Tavistock.

The home side made the early running and put the first points on the board with a penalty by fly half Rich Goldsby-West, who had a superb game with the boot kicking four penalties and two conversions.

The visitors hit back but were kept out by good tackling by Josh Langton and Ade Baker. Eventually they worked the ball wide and winger Raby went in at the corner for a try.

Back came Tavistock and a quick tap penalty enabled Danny Luffman to get Lewis Edwards away to the 22 yard line where he drew a penalty. From the resulting lineout, the Tavistock forwards set up a drive for the line. From the ruck, scrum half Paul Wilcox fed Goldsby-West and his superb long, flat pass was taken by Luffman, who burst through the defence to touchdown under the posts.

Teignmouth now enjoyed some possession around the home 22 but could not find a way through the Tavistock defence and had to settle for a penalty to reduce the Tavistock lead.

An injury to centre Harry Dawe saw him replaced by Dan Oner. The visitors regained the lead as they picked up a loose ball and Parsons went over in the corner. Tavistock immediately levelled with another penalty from Goldsby-West but they handed the lead straight back to the visitors as from a scrum they worked the ball across for Bury to touchdown in the corner.

With half time approaching, Tavistock retook the lead with two penalties from Goldsby-West following infringements by the visitors.

The early encounters in the second half saw both defences standing firm. Front row for Tavistock Lloyd James replaced Ross Bailey.

After a clearing kick, the visitors ran the ball back and an infringement lead to a penalty which they kicked and a yellow card for Tavistock centre Henry Cunningham.

Teignmouth increased their lead with another try in the corner for Raby. Tavistock reduced the visitors lead with the try of the match. From a ruck five metres from their own line, Dan Oner dived on a loose ball, made a couple of metres before the ball was passed out to Lewis Edwards who raced up the wing, evading tackles to touchdown under the posts; the conversion levelled the score.

Teignmouth then spurned a scoring opportunity as they broke into the 22 but threw a forward pass with the try line at their mercy. Tavistock then took the lead as Dom Connor set up a ruck from which Luffman sent away Edwards for his second try in the corner.

A moment of controversy then came as Tavistock front row Ade Baker was red carded. Teignmouth then levelled as Raby completed his hat-trick with a try in the corner. Surely Tavistock were not going to be denied two points at the death but as with other four conversions it sailed wide and the points were shared.