Cornwall and Devon

Tavistock first 12

Plymstock Albion

Oaks 17

AFTER a week’s break Tavistock welcomed local rivals Plymstock to Sandy Park. Knowing a few key personnel were missing they knew it was going to be a tough contest but not one that could not be won.

In the same case as previous weeks Tavistock would pay for their slow start. An early penalty saw former Tavistock player Rich West score points in front of goal; shortly before the Tavistock defence was beaten by the express pace of the Oaks wing, taking the score to 10-0.

A period of calm followed for Tavistock, who lost Josh O’Neill to a shoulder niggle, but started to dominate up front and in particular at scrum time. The Oaks were starved of possession but the rare ball they did capitalise with as their lively backs created a chance for their centre to skip through unopposed. Half time 17-0.

The second half was a much different affair as Tavistock enjoyed around 80% of possession and a figure closing 100% of territory. That being said the Oaks’ defence withstood the pressure well and was not broken until the hour mark when good hands saw Doug Lloyd cross the whitewash.

Tavistock continued to dominate up-front with Baker, Hair and man of the much Guppy giving a torrid time to the sizeable opposition front row. 

Tavistock may have felt a little hard done by as a series of Oaks’ penalties at the breakdown (16 in total) were not penalised further — keeping all 15 players on the pitch.

The introduction of Tom Friend saw further in roads into the Oaks’ defence later resulting in captain Schuttkacker crossing for a five pointer on the final whistle.

Another 10 minutes and the game was Tavistock’s. However, a 20 minute lapse of concentration at the start of the game proved to be the deciding factor.