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North Tawton 6

Wessex 10

ON a wet but well turned out pitch North Tawton fielded what on paper looked a strong side against the high flying Wessex team based in Exeter, who it seems, came with a game plan that by large they stuck to and went home with a well deserved win.

From a North Tawton point of view it surely has to be a game that got away. a dropped ball here, a knock on there, and it could easily have been a win for the hosts but alas it was not to be and not to take anything away from Wessex.

North Tawton will feel they did not play their ‘A’ game and were a bit slow at the break down, and many turn over balls did not help their cause. Nor did a bad injury to winger Ben Sharp, or 10 minutes in the bin for scrum half Jack Phare for a professional foul only added to the frustration of playing staff and spectators alike.

The bottom line was that North Tawton played some good rugby in patches but against a dogged Wessex, the team came up short,

The last five minutes of the first half saw North Tawtwon pin Wessex inside their own 10 metre line and the visitors were only too pleased to hear the half time whistle, leading 10-0 — the result of a converted try and a penalty.

The second half saw North Tawton hit back somewhat with two penalties of their own struck by Will Leathbridge  but it was a try that was required to pinch a win with the clock ticking down.

All the pressure for points was coming from North Tawton and a late break from deep by Wessex did not do the nerves of the home supporters any good.  Jack Phare won a close run to make the ball safe over his own line to atone for the yellow earlier.

At the end of the game Wessex were happy to hear the final whistle; their joy was only matched by the frustration of the North Tawton team.

Their thoughts turn to Ben Sharp who had a shoulder injury which resulted in the ambulance being called.