TAVISTOCK RFC 1st XV won for the first time this season in Devon One when they edged out Exeter Saracens 39-34 at Sandy Park.

Hooker Marc Kerswill helped himself to two tries as Tavistock came from behind to take the points.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats by OPM and Honiton, it was the kick-start to the league season coach Leigh Puttock had hoped for.

“Play with energy and don’t let your heads drop, ever,” said Puttock.

“We were down up to about midway through the second half. Saracens are a strong team so we did really well.

“It shows that we are moving in the right direction.”

Kerswill, a 240-plus game veteran, is enjoying something of a renaissance this season, which hasn’t gone un-noticed by the coach.

“I must say Marc is playing exceptionally well at the moment,” said Puttock.

Kerswill, whose long service with Tavistock includes a stint as player-coach, deflected that praise around the dressing room.

“When you have some good, young lads coming through, you need to keep a few older heads playing as they settle in,” said Kerswill.

Kerswill was joined on the scoresheet by Vaughan Glover, Richard Cann and Harry Ball. Freddie Fuller kicked the goal points.

This win has Tavistock in ninth in the table, one point and one place ahead of Brixham Crusaders who they will host on Saturday, October 17.

Brixham also started the campaign with back-to-back defeats, falling against Plymstock Oaks and Exmouth IIs.

On the 10th, they beat Old Plymothian and Mannamedian in a high-scoring affair, 62-41.

Elsewhere in the division, Exmouth IIs edged out Topsham IIs by just three points, Plymstock Oaks surpassed 50 points against Honiton, Crediton IIs were beaten at South Molton and Bideford returned home from Withycombe with a victory to their name.