Friendly

Tavistock RFC 19

NORTH Tawton got the new season underway with a one point loss against a Tavistock side who play two leagues up from the one the hosts find themselves in this year after they were relegated last season.

The match, which was supposed to be played under floodlights, finished in near darkness due to power failure, despite the best efforts of the club.

The match started in fine style for the home side with the first try of the new season by Simon Quick; with the conversion missed it gave Tawton a 5-0 lead, a lead that was short lived when the visitors claimed a try of their own a good kick to go 7-5 up.

A second try for Tavistock soon followed plus conversion made it 14-5 to Tavistock.

It looked like the vistors were going to run away with it. It was Tavistock’s fourth game of the new season as opposed to North Tawton.

However North Tawton, with some good running rugby, got the ball down in the Tavistock 22, a fine running pick up by Dave Fewings was taken over by Coner Mathis for the home side’s second try. Another missed conversion gave the half-time score of 10-14 in favour of Tavistock.

The second half got under way after a short break but due to the failing light it was going to be hard to get to the final whistle before darkness set in. Tavistock made the first move with another try for 10-19.

Both sides tried to play some running through the hands rugby and each made some good breaks.

North Tawton played as if there was not two leagues difference between them, which augers well for the home side this year.

Continuing North Tawton pressure led to a Dave Fewings penalty to claw the score back to 13-19.

As the light faded Tawton went over the line for the third time for 18-19. With the last kick of the game, right on the final whistle, Dave Fewings hit the crossbar and his effort ball bounces the wrong side for the home team to give Tavistock a narrow win.

This was a good run out for both teams in front of a decent crowd.