Cornwall and Devon

TRURO 43

NORTH TAWTON 14

NORTH Tawton travelled to Truro with a long standing winning away run on the line and a team missing several players – adding the weather conditions the visitors were up against it.

The rain might have come down but the heads of the North Tawton team certainly did not; even though the score line suggested a hiding, it was anything but and the North Tawton players did the club proud.

They were up against a Truro side that had been relegated last season from a higher league and had kept many of their players. For the first 15 minutes North Tawton looked comfortable, even if they were spending more time in their own half than they would have liked. A couple of tries for the home team set the pattern for the next hour of play and try as they might the visitors could not get any phases together to trouble the scoreboard as the home side ran in the tries.

By the hour mark they were 0-43 down but the last 20 minutes belonged to North Tawton. With the slippery ball now being kept in hand they decided to run at the city team and a good move down the wing and good handling skills resulted with Will Lethbridge going over for a try; the conversion was added by Gary Sizmur for 7-43. 

North Tawton with their soggy tails on the rise came back for another go at the Truro try line and in desperation the home side Truro conceded a penalty try and two yellow cards.        

Although the scoreline suggested a big loss score for North Tawton and a reality check on the task awaiting them as the season unfolds, the willingness for players to make themselves available shows that the side are in a good position not only to survive but to have a big say in this league.