TAVISTOCK earned a much deserved first league win of the season with an impressive display against local rivals Plymouth Argaum.

With eight first team regulars injured or unavailable the Moorlanders had to dig deep into their playing reserves.

Tavistock started brightly and soon had the upper hand in the scrums. Front rowers Ash Martin, Jasper Cameron and Jason Ward caused Argaum problems all game and Ed Nettleship kicked for the corner from the first of many scrum penalties they gained. This resulted in a well worked catch and drive, which saw tight head Ward go over from close range with Nettleship adding the conversion. The Moorlanders clearly had a game plan to play for territory and Jack Glover, Dave Milligan and Nettleship kept the away side pinned in their own half with some clever kicking.

Once in their opponents half Tavistock looked to move the ball wide and this soon earned them a second score with the ball being moved to the right wing of Tom Charlesworth before he passed back inside neatly to Sam Eaton to crash over.

Argaum started to find some rhythm and looked to utilise their big ball carriers in the midfield but Nettleship was alive to this threat and popped up to intercept, race clear and score under the posts; he converted himself to give the Moorlanders a 19-0 lead.

A momentary lapse in concentration saw Tavistock lose possession from the kick off and Argaum took advantage to make their first try of the game which was converted right of the stroke of half time.

The home spectator’s nerves were tested when Tavistock conceded a second score early in the second half. A lack of composure in clearing their lines proved costly and brought Argaum to within five points.

Tavistock rallied, however, with some tough tackling from backrowers Josh Langton, Sam Northmore and Sam Eaton stopping Argaum on the gain line. Then when back in possession Seb Cox, Jasper Cameron and Jack Jones all carried strongly putting Tavistock back on the front foot.

The introduction of Josh Birch also gave the home side some added impetus in attack and defence. Moving the ball to the wider channels again proved fruitful and Ash Toll used his speed and nifty footwork to go around his opposing wing only to see his chip through drift into touch.

The home side persisted to move the ball through the back line and centres Jack Easton and Louis Cockcroft both made breaks; following a period of pressure Nettleship moved the ball to his two centres who popped the ball up nicely for Tom Charlesworth to score the bonus point try in the right hand corner. This gave the Moorlanders a 10 point buffer and they looked to be in control but with eight minutes to go they lost Tom Friend to the sin bin after he was adjudged to have gone off his feet at the ruck. The home side, however, showed maturity in keeping the ball tight for the last few minutes and earning a kickable penalty. Ed Nettleship stepped up and slotted the kick to cap a man of the match display with the three point score that helped see Tavistock home.