Friendly

Tavistock RFC 29

Paignton seconds 7

TAVISTOCK completed the second of their preseason warm-up games against a combative Paignton XV. Clearly the Moorlanders ground staff had been working hard over the summer with the first team pitch looking in great condition despite the hot weather.

The visiting side struggled at scrum time but they boasted an effective lineout and some good running lines from their outside backs. Tavistock, however, had the majority of the early possession and tried to get their own backline firing by running the ball at the opposition from deep. Unfortunately this over exuberance resulted in them conceding the first try in comedic fashion. A quick tapped penalty inside their own 22 saw the ball get fumbled and bounce off one of the goalposts into the eager arms of an on rushing Paignton attacker, which was duly converted. The home side maintained their composure and some enterprising passing between forwards and backs saw them make some headway into their opponents half. This pressure led to a Tavistock scrum close to the Paignton line and when the initial pick up from the base by Andrew Schuttkacker was halted, flanker Jasper Cameron was on hand to finish off the try at the second attempt. Cameron has moved up to the first team from last year’s Colts and this try was just reward for a man of the match display.

With the Moorlanders trailing by 5-7 points at half time they looked to start the second half by taking advantage of their scrum dominance and this resulted in a close range score for Tom Friend. Shortly followed by a score for Sam Eaton, which saw the score go to 17-7. As the game began to open up in the final third another of last years Colts, fly half Ed Nettleship, started to get his back line firing. Full back Ben Milligan started to become a menace with the ball in hand and an interchange between backs and forwards created space for Andrew Scuttkacker to crash over. Tavistock saved the best for last and starting with the ball in their own half Nettleship made space for his centres, Andrew Craddock and Ethan Lamerton, who made good yards before putting flying winger Will Gardner through in the corner.

Gardner rounded the full back and scored under the posts. Nettleship converted with the last kick of the game.