Cornwall and Devon

Topsham 5

Tavistock 32

TAVISTOCK recorded their seventh win of the season away to newly promoted Topsham RFC. This win sees the Moorlanders going into the halfway point of the season having more wins than losses and a points tally exceeding that of the whole of last season.

Having put in a strong defensive effort last week, Tavistock were keen to keep their hosts at bay but with an added emphasis on discipline at the breakdown. The game started positively for the West Devon outfit when a number of strong runs from Louis Cockcroft led to a Topsham error, which Ben Hadfield flyhacked forward for Sam Smerdon to pounce.

Tavistock maintained dominant for the next half hour. Cockcroft was well rewarded for his earlier efforts for a well finished try and Hadfield generously gifted a try for captain Schuttkacker.

Dan Oner on kicking duties slotted a penalty but It was the high work rate in defence of Callum Thompson, Billy Spencer and Martin Budden that proved important as a number of Topsham players left the field with injury.

This dogged defence was prominent for the whole game but for a momentary lapse of concentration on the stroke of half-time, as Topsham were allowed to cross the whitewash. At half time it was 22-5 to the visitors.

The second half started with Topsham enjoying much of the possession but to little avail as Tavistock soaked up the pressure and eventually turned over the ball to continue their free flowing counter attacking rugby.

Perhaps the play of the game followed on the 65th minute as Tavistock held out Topsham on their own line for a lengthy period before an error was forced and Tavistock broke free from their half; Sam Smerdon finishing off excellently to earn his brace.

With the dying moments of the game came further dominance from Tavistock as a hefty scrum forced a turnover from which Callum Thompson bundled over in the final play of the game.

This result sees Tavistock move up to sixth in the table.