Devon one

North Tawton 52

Ilfracombe 0

ON a cold afternoon at Taw Meadows it took a North Tawton rugby team coming off the back of last weeks drubbing at New Cross 20 minutes to unlock the Ilfracombe  defence.

Having done it once and with the confidence on the up the rest of the game, with respect to the away side, became something of a route.

The all important bonus point try was in the bag by half time and while the match looked safe at half time, Ilfracombe were not quite ready to throw the towel in and rallied at the start of the second half making life a bit harder for the home side.

However the North Tawton try machine Matt Baker went one better than his brace in the first half and sealed his hat-trick of tries.

For periods of the game the tries came thick and fast, Bill Sharp adding one to his season tally and Tom Cockerham enjoying coming off the bench to make his presence felt with a fine try of his own.

Luke Dennis finished another solid game with a try and then there were two by Dave Fewings, who also had another good day with the boot adding six conversions to the final score.

It is fair to say that Tawton have struggled with consistency in the kicking department in the past but Fewings has taken on the kicking mantle with confidence.

Man of the match was Matty Dennis, who never stopped working all game. 

This was a good all round performance from North Tawton, which they will need to carry into their next match at home against an in form Torrington team.

If North Tawton  turn up with their ‘A’ game they can make any side in the league look average.

Before this Saturday’s game with Torrington, there will be a presentation to the Devon Air Ambulance by Jill Hoggins, in memory of the much missed vice chairman Peter Hoggins,  at 2 pm.