Liskeard U18s 15

Tavistock U18s 51

IN the traditional warm-up start to the season, Liskeard Leopards were the opposition and with depleted sides the Tavistock team dominated the seven-a-side game.

After the summer lay-off, passing initially was rather ragged, but Lauren Dawe emerged from the melee to outpace the Liskeard defence to open up the scoring.

The team had two inexperienced players Jess Tait, and Hannah Morris who broke new ground for the team. Playing her first match, she was a little tentative at first, but soon her confidence rose. Towards the end of the second half, she was backing up a good break by Lizzie Crocker and the ball was passed to her.

She broke through a tackle to score her first try in her first match.

Tries were also scored by Captain Flo Rodgers, Lizzie Crocker, Annabel Longden, Lily Hilson, Kim Upcott and Fen Easthaugh.

Annabel Longdon converted three tries.

Devonport U18s 17

Tavistock U18s 5

ON a wet and windy Sunday, the Tavistock girls went to Devonport, knowing that this would be a tough match. More so because they were fielding three new players in the team.

Devonport started with great speed and using the whole width of the pitch ran in a try from their 22, which was converted.

Battling into the elements, Tavistock kept the ball close by tackling hard and close passing. Only twice did Devonport break out. On the first occasion from depth, the Devonport outside centre broke through the line and hared off closely followed by Lily Hillson. A last ditch tackle slowed the number 11 giving Fen Easthaugh time to recover the ball and begin the fight back into the storm. Later the Devonport second row following up the play, was in the right place to power over from short range.

In the second half, Devonport scored another breakaway try against the run of play.

With 10 minutes to go, after some skilful offloading and a maul, the ball came through to Flo Rodgers and then to Lauren Dawe through the hands of stand-off Lily Hillson. Lauren looked like scoring when she was just caught by a Devonport defender. Backing up in only her second match, was Hannah Morris, taking the offload to score in her first match.

The most hardworking forward was Lizzie Crocker, tackling fearlessly, gaining possession and carrying the ball with strength to the final whistle.

Kim Upcott controlled the scrimmaging, but the line out work must be improved for the next match.

Tavistock will take heart from this match, knowing several areas need to be worked on, but even so, still able to compete with the best.

l The team is always looking for new players.

Any girl wishing to try rugby is invited to a taster session at Tavistock Rugby Club today (Thursday) at 6 pm — all welcome!