Cornwall and Devon

Tavistock 29

Falmouth 10

AT the end of a troublesome season, during which player availability has been the key challenge, Tavistock have started to find some form. 

In the first half Falmouth started brightly, playing a number of phases before moving the ball quickly into the wide areas to stretch the home team.  Tavistock defended well and, as a result of some good defensive pressure, began to force errors. 

Early in the first half Luke Northmore collected the ball in the loose and ran hard at the Falmouth backs.  Some quick handling between a number of Tavistock players saw the home team cut through Falmouth leading to a smart try by Mark Friend which North-more converted. 

Tavistock took control of the game for the remainder of the first half.  They were dominant in the scrum and lineout and the backs managed to frequently get over the gain line.  In desperate need of a bonus point, Northmore added a further three tries and conversion to set up a deserved 24-0 half time lead for the home side.    

With Tavistock complacent that they had achieved their aim, Falmouth came back into the game in the second half retaining the ball in the Tavistock 22 for prolonged periods. 

An early converted try by Falmouth number eight Simon Bailey was the wake-up call the home side needed.  From that moment the Tavistock defence was committed and withstood considerable pressure, preventing more than a dozen pick-and-go’s on the try line.  With Falmouth chasing the game and Tavistock content to soak up the pressure, the home side started to make the most of their counter attack.  This was rewarded late on when some good team play and quick hands led to Callum Thompson scoring Tavistock’s fifth try of the game. 

Overall a gutsy performance from Tavistock earned a well earned win against a determined Falmouth side. 

Good recent form and this home win have enabled Tavistock to keep their hopes of staying up alive; a win away to Newquay Hornets in the last game of the season and a bit of luck elsewhere will hopefully see them finish the job.