Ellis cup

Tavistock thirds 15

Plymouth University thirds 10

TWO well matched sides played a hard fought game, with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

The first half was a dour battle, with the University forwards edging the set scrums and dominating the lineouts. The home forwards were more prominent in the loose play, with prop Tim Child; lock Mark Wheatley and back row men Tom Dawe and Tony Worle, constantly making the hard yards.

With both defences holding firm, there were few scoring chances and halftime arrived with no points on the board for either side.

The second half started with the Tavistock forwards increasing the pressure with their pick and driving play and five minutes into the half, after a series of phases from the forwards, hooker Paddy Warlow forced his way over the line for the opening score. Skipper Martin Credicott added the conversion.

Tavistock continued to enjoy the majority of the possession, but midway through the half, the visitors put together a sweeping move, which ended with an unconverted try.

Credicott booted a penalty for Tavistock shortly afterwards and the home forwards started to take a stronger grip on the game.

One of the University players was sent to the sinbin and while he was off, more good driving play from the home forwards ended with replacement scrumhalf, Alex Moy, emerging from underneath a driving maul, to claim Tavistock's second try. The conversion missed.

Moy then displeased the referee and was sent to the bin and in his absence, the visitors produced another length of the field attack, which ended with a good try in the right hand corner.

The conversion again missed and Tavistock closed the game out to the final whistle and a place in the cup semi-finals.